We’re planning to move soon. We never intended to settle here, but always, it seems there is one thing or another that keeps us grounded here. It’s either school, or work, or family, and it’s so odd, because this is such a small town. How could it ensnare us for so long a time? Anyway, we’re moving down to Bloomington – bigger things, brighter things, greener pastures.

We spent the morning house and preschool hunting – seeking out the basic elements of our new lives. We’re only looking for a rental house for now. The lenders, they don’t much like the recently self-employed. We amused ourselves today, following around a property manager. The first house we viewed had some college kid sleeping on a futon in the living room. The situation was so comic I still laugh as I remember it. Poor kid, he looked rather ridiculous, twisting his neck to look up at us from under the blankets, as we toured the living room. And yet, he didn’t look nearly so embarrassed as I would have been. Apparently, his friend let him crash on the couch, and forgot to tell him we were coming. Likely I needn’t mention that this is a big college town.

We did end up with a house we like. We need only have our application approved, and I imagine it will be. It’s bigger than we need, and more expensive than we’re used to. But it has a fire place, and a yard for the dogs, and plenty of nice extras. The neighborhood is great, there’s a park just around the corner. The lease begins in August. In the meantime, we need to figure out what to do with our current home. Save it as an investment, or sell it and forget about it?

The preschool situation is a bit more complicated. First, it’s expensive. How much will we pay, and how much can we afford? We viewed one moderately priced “school” that didn’t even have certified teachers. Bordering on the outrageously expensive (to us) is the Montessori school and the others in its class. I find the principles of Montessori elitist and gimmicky, really – but it’s becoming clear that you get what you pay for in terms of early education. Want well trained and involved instructors? Want care takers that do more than slog through the day at their underpaid jobs, subtly neglecting your child or worse? Pay the price. Thankfully, the public school system looks dynamic, so we only have two years of tuition to pay.

But anyway, let’s say we are willing to pay whatever it costs. Well, it’s still up in the air, because most every school has a waiting list. Getting in may be a matter of chance. If you’re lucky, we’ll allow you to pay us to send your child here. But you will definitely pay us a non-refundable application fee for the privilege of being on our list, whether we have room or not. Nice.

But I’ll end my complaining there, lest you become convinced I’m unhappy about moving. No, no, I am thrilled to be going. But sometimes you have work really hard for the good things. There’s a certain easy comfort in inertia. But this is going to pay off in spades. We’re going to love our new town.

If only we can afford it.