We closed on our house earlier this week and we're officially homeowners (!). Now, who wants to buy our house?? Just kidding!
I should point out that this process has taken place over the most brutal winter the Mid-Atlantic region has seen in a very long time. Our first week of homeownership hasn't been free of any worries related to winter - we're getting the full experience (snow, ice, shoveling, and all).
Our first stop after settlement was to the home improvement store. Yes, the shopping has begun! No damage was done, we just purchased essentials like new toilet seats (old ones were gross), door locks, and, of course, salt for the snow that's coming. We also ordered oil, which is very expensive (in case you're wondering ;)
It felt strange and overwhelming to step foot in the house later in the day. Perhaps I felt that way because the space still feels like it belongs to someone else or because I was functioning on pure adrenaline from the height of the transaction that I had to shift my mental focus. I knew I had to do something that would make me feel more attached to the house. So I cleaned. The first thing I cleaned was the kitchen sink, the heart of the kitchen. I scrubbed the pale yellow sink trying to help the attachment process begin. I don't know if I felt any closer to the house afterwards, but I felt a sense of accomplishment bubble to the surface when I realized it was
my sink, not a rental. It was a small, emotional victory
enjoyed in the kitchen alone with the soft afternoon light pouring through the window.
