I was looking on Zillow on day and saw a house in Woburn that seemed to fit our needs. The price was in our range. We went to the open house and saw a nice house in what looked like a nice neighborhood. There was evidence of kids in then area with Little Tykes items in some yards, basketball hoops, and minivans. We went inside to look around.. For the first time in all the houses we looked at, this one felt like were at home. If we are going to buy a house, this is the one. We only hoped that it would be available when we received an offer on the house in Charlestown.
Fortunately, everything worked out just fine. Tracie and her brother accepted an offer on Charlestown, and we put in an offer on the house in Woburn. A few back and forths with the seller and we had a deal in place. Or so we thought! We had a closing date in early February. If you remember, that winter of 2014-15 was when it snowed every other day.
We got through the snow. We began packing and emptying the house. The trash pick up guys hated us because of the amount of trash we put out each week, and the trash pickers loved us for the very same reason. We got it done and were ready for the closing. The movers got the truck loaded and just as we getting ready to leave the house for the last time we were told that the closing was postponed until some legal matters were taken care of. We hoped it would be quick, but snowstorms closed the courts for a few days, a weekend, and trying to get all of the schedules on the same page took another week. The seller was a very patient man. He worked with us and was very accommodating for us. It wasn't easy, but in the end the deal got done.
So, on Friday the 13th, we moved in. Then it snowed over the weekend. We dug out and unpacked. Katie and I explored our new neighborhood. A few times we had to use the GPS to get us home, but we learned our way around. We didn't have a chance to meet our neighbors because it seemed that it was always snowing or it was bitterly cold. We settled in and created our routines. As the weather became nicer we met some neighbors. Katie made some friends. We continued to walk the neighborhood, but now the neighbors were saying "Hi Katie!" Big surprise, right? She seemed to know everyone.
As time went on we met more and more people. Having Katie in grammar school helped because we would see parents at the bus stop each morning and afternoon. In a very short time, friendships blossomed and we began to feel that we were part of the neighborhood. Everyone we met was very welcoming. We moved into the area not knowing anyone, but meeting such wonderful people made the transition very easy for us.
It was difficult to leave Charlestown after 25 years. We left behind some good memories, and some good friends. I wish we could see them more, but with work, kids, and life, that doesn't happen as often as we would like. We love our house. We love our neighborhood and the friends we've made. We're looking forward to making new memories and hopefully 25 years in the Wu!