The issues begin

The architect came back with some plans. Not really what we had discussed, I thought, but OK. What I don't like is the house not attached to the garage. This seems impossible to accomplish. I don't want to be walking to my car in the rain, snow and cold. To make it attached would make it too big and therefore too expensive.

These plans have a perfectly fine foot print and they conform to all of the city's demands. (Since I bought this lot from the city I am required to do many things. They are not arduous. Still. It had to be 2 stories, it must be 40 feet wide, it must line up with all the other properties on the block, etc., this does all of that.)

But the garage is unattached.

First floor                                        Second floor

Meeting with the architect

So I met with the architect. We met at his home and I was a little alarmed because his way of living is not mine. He is quite spartan and seems to be very interested in minimal to the point of asceticism. I am not. I like minimal. But not like that. I want something very inviting and homey. Be that as it may, I will have to figure that out. I like him and he seems reasonable so I may be worrying needlessly. But that is what I do best. Worry needlessly.

We sat and noodled out a plan that I liked but there was something that didn't sit right with me. I needed to think about it.

One thing I don't like is the fact that the house is not connected to the garage. This seems to be an issue with him. He thinks it's fine. I do not.

No anxiety

This is the kind of thing that should be causing me a lot of anxiety. The kind of thing that would keep me up at night. But it is not. I'm not sure why. In part, is that I think it is the right thing to do. In part, I am so done with this condo. And another part is that it is done. There is nothing I can do about it.

Accepted offer

The city has accepted my offer to purchase a vacant lot on the corner of Fratney and Meineke. I haven't received the final paperwork but the guy, Yves, at the city told me that it had been accepted. It seems surreal.

I have lived in my condo for 13 years, longer than I have ever lived anywhere in my life. As children we moved all the damn time it seemed. Milwaukee, Mauston, Delafield (2 places), Nashotah, (2 places), then adulthood. The longest I've lived anywhere until now is 8 years in Fox Point.

I hope that I have longer than 13 years on Meineke.

At the current time the address is Fratney but I will have the entrance on Meineke. I like that name a little more than Fratney. Fratney sounds a little down on its luck.

Maybe I'm insane

This could be a terrible decision. But on the other hand it may be great. I have always liked Riverwest and now it seems I may be living there.