Our real estate agent showed the house yesterday to a couple from Marin County. She called us last night with a follow-up report.
“They are shopping for another vacation home and have just started looking in New Mexico, but they loved your house, especially the furnishings. Plus, they are making a cash offer if you are willing to close before the end of the year.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. What kind of offer?”
“They are willing to meet your asking price, and they’d like to make a bid on the furnishings.”
“What? You mean the appliances?”
“Well yes, and everything else that you’re willing to include with the sale. They admired the antiques, the art work, everything. In fact, they asked specifically about the piano and the tools in the garage.”
“Jeez, I don’t know. Our bedroom set came from my grandmother’s house, and a lot of the art work is from Annie’s studio. Wait a minute. Are you pulling my leg? Is this for real?”
“Well, yes. This is clearly not the only property they own, and the idea of moving in to a beautifully furnished home that needs a minimum of changes has an appeal for them. As I said, they were charmed by the ramada in the back yard and the other improvements you’ve made. Maybe you could decide what you’re willing to let go of and list anything you want to keep?”
“This is too good to be true. We wouldn’t have to pack or move anything, just hand over the keys, then go rent an R.V. until we decide where we’re headed next. The problem is, I can tell you right now, Annie won’t be happy with doing a clean slate kind of thing. I mean, she’s a nester. This would be like starting all over, almost as if you are erasing your entire history, but I don’t know if that is such a bad thing? Sooner or later we have to let go of it all anyway. I mean when we die. Do they want the dog, too, because that would be a deal breaker. We’ve only had her a year or so, but Tashi is family.”
“Well, it’s your house, your stuff, your art work, your dog. You can do as you please. Why don’t you sleep on it, and I’ll just say we’ll get back to them in the morning.”
Harpeth Rivers is busy packing when he’s not playing guitar or telling tall tales.
