One door opens, another door closes

I wrote that I would update the process of our moving plans to Las Cruces, New Mexico. Well here you are.

One obstacle detailed was the failure of our Septic System’s Title V test. We are working toward getting the necessary repair done, having hired an engineer who will draw up the plan. Next up is applying to the town for the proper permits to do a “Perk Test” and find or create an appropriate area for it. I have the form in front of me and will be submitting it soon.

Of course, we have no way to pay the anticipated 12 thousand dollar cost for the repair. However, the engineer, a family friend, told us that the person who would do the repair is someone who will do the job contingent on the sale of the house to get paid, once we get to the point of selling the house. I figured that we could take the money we have (about 3K) to make a down payment. So this door that was closed shut, was now open, if even just a crack.

However yesterday, that mighty slam you may have heard was the door slamming once again. Our well failed. We have had a very dry last 8 months, the water level was very low and it failed. We had the pump re-primed with the thought that with sparing use we could get it to recover somewhat but it immediately failed again today. Sometimes life really sucks. We had some people coming to look at the house last night, have a failed septic, a failed well and am feeling like such a failure myself. Sometimes life just sucks.

I spent a significant part of morning yesterday trying to make the necessary arrangements to get a new well put in and figure out how to pay for this whole endeavor. Life is too short to stress out about all these issues yet their importance is paramount to our planning for retirement and moving to New Mexico and having a quiet retiring life.

This is what I look forward to now. Talking through this process with the DW. Moving money from different bank accounts and writing checks for all manner of money to get work done. Squeezing the last few drops of water out of our well so that it lasts the 2 weeks necessary to get the new one put in. Figuring out where 20 thousand dollars will come from. Reevaluating the dream of purchasing a house or condo in Las Cruces. Accepting the fact that apartment life will be the only way to get there. Shifting gears, changing plans, modifying dreams.

Sometimes things just suck. Excuse me, I just got something in my eye........