LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

You have all heard real estates agent talk about the importance of location when choosing a place to live.  Traveling across the country and finding a place to stay is no different. We decided to leave the RV in Indiana to do this cross-country trip due to our lack of experience of full-timing (RV jargon) through the winter.

The challenge: Stay close to where you working. Find a place that is comfortable but affordable. No real estate agent, we have to find the location ourselves.

Portland was easy – we stayed with Jackie and Scott Byer. During the actual trade show we stayed in the Monaco Hotel with the rest of Frontier Group. It was inexpensive and less than 2 miles from the Convention Center.

Frisco was a bit more difficult. We know where we wanted to stay but Hotel Frisco is expensive. Friends of ours recommended the house next door to them. The location was not perfect (no walking to the coffee shop) but the price was right.

You know the saying “You get what you pay for?” The first night we arrived the owner and her son were there. Hmm okay, that is weird but it is just one night of the two weeks we are there. Then two nights later we got home and the son was there with 3 of his friends. A bit frustrating. Then two nights later the pipes froze. We spent all day on the phone with owners trying to figure out how to unthaw their pipes! The next day we got back to the house (still frozen pipes) and the owner was there! He was drunk and creeping me out! Next morning, his car wouldn’t start. So, we spent 2 HOURS trying to get his car to start. Really?? Two nights later, the son and dad were there. They told us the wife and some more friends were heading up!

We immediately Packed up and left. Andy tried to give him a check but he said he didn’t want the IRS to come after him and he needed cash. We just sent him a check.

The remainder of trip (3 nights) we stayed at Copper Mountain. We rented a condo from Copper Vacations. It was more expensive but so worth it. We hiked up and skied/snowboard. I could walk to the coffee shop. No one was there – just Andy and I. It was AWESOME!

We left CO and headed to the unfamiliar Seattle, WA 2/7.

Our thought was to find corporate housing – furnished and not too expensive. The first place we found was dirty and in the middle of a ton of corporate office buildings. We decided we needed a bit more culture. Maybe downtown, near Pikes Market, the water, tons of coffee shops and culture.

The Belltown Inn has culture and diversity. Yesterday a young girl (22-25) was leaning against the building with her pants around her ankles yelling at me to let her use my phone. Sure – here it is – really? There was a stabbing 2 blocks away a couple days ago. The Chinese Restaurant across the street does frequent dragon dances outside – drums, customs and all. It’s loud but diverse.

This is not what any real estate agent had in mind when they said Location, Location, Location.

There are some PROS: Umi Sake/Sushi is a block away. Walking distance to Gold’s Gym where we work out at least every other day. Tons of coffee shops. That’s about it.

I am trying to stay positive. But, honestly, this has been the longest 19 days we have had in our one year of marriage. The next 12 days should go a little faster: We have 5 appointments set and 3 tentative appointments. I have to back to the dentist for a crown (yep, on this amazing trip to WA I broke a tooth too! – do you hear the sarcasm?).

What’s next? A photo shoot in Colorado. We have an amazing place to stay there (Andy helped build it so it should be perfect!). At the end of March heading back to IN. After staying in my parents’ house (which I LOVE) we will get the RV ready to head to MS!!!!

Being on the road is good. We are learning a lot about life, love and work.