We found a new home!

We’re back from beautiful California feeling refreshed and ready to tackle our last month in Indiana. (Last month?!?) We flew to San Jose on Thursday to interview for a position as resident managers of a complex in San Mateo. We tried not to have our hopes up since we knew several others were interviewing and that the home owners’ association originally had a retired person in mind for the job. But we decided we’d make a fun trip out of it and also look at other apartments while we were there.

This is us at our favorite beach...which unfortunately has a little history of having at least one fat old naked man roaming around. This time was no exception. Wonder what I’m pointing at in the next picture... (Don’t worry, we stayed as far away from him as possible. This time Ryan managed NOT to get in a conversation with him.)





Thanks, E&Y, for financing our stay in a Hilton Gardens Hotel, via Hotwire.com. I could have stayed all day in that hotel!



And best of all, about 30 minutes after we left our interview, we got a call offering us the job. We interviewed with two men and two women on the HOA board, and it turns out that the women in particular “liked our energy.” Guess that’s what did it!

Here’s a shot of our new home! All of the 52 units are privately owned, so we’ll be working for the HOA board, not individual owners. As far as we understand, we’ll be coordinating with the pool guy and grounds crew, ensuring that the common areas are tidy and the trash is taken out, letting people in if they’re locked out, etc. Most of the residents are older, so we’re doubtful that we’ll have to tell too many people to turn their thumping music down! We know it will be work, but we’re excited for the opportunity. In exchange, we get a free two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, which in the Bay area is a pretty darn good deal.



The nicest thing about the trip was leaving knowing where we’ll be living. Neither of us expected that. We drove around looking at what will be “our Costco” and “our Target.” We even walked inside our church building. It is crazy how quickly life can change.