Saturday, August 16, 2008

New Digs

As some of you know, when we returned to the States for training prior to our departure for Albania, Emily and I planned to buy a condo in the Arlington or Alexandria area. Unfortunately it didn't work out. We found a few acceptable places, but the condo fees were just too much, rendering it impossible to break even as a rental.

We got lucky. On Livelines, a Yahoo! Group designed for mutual support/commiseration of Foreign Service personnel and families, we found the perfect house: in Arlington, very close to FSI (Emily can walk to class in @ 10 minutes!), furnished, and adjacent to Alcova Heights Park. The owners are FS folks, too, currently abroad. We took the place over immediately after another officer, who was just wrapping up language training prior. The timing was right, the location perfect, and the house great. Best of all, rent is via per diem and all-inclusive, making our lives a lot easier.

Boots is having occasional problems with the hardwood floors upstairs and the Pergo in the basement den (she had the same problem in Mexico with tile and marble floors), but loves the park. She has become reaquainted with squirrels, something she didn't see at all in Monterrey, and soon enough we'll encounter a bunny or two on our daily walks; what more could she want? (Aside from cheese, of course.)