Hints of Spring

It’s been awhile since I’ve had time for a quiet Sunday morning at the Beanstreet Café. Spring is clearly on its way: the cafe is packed with tourists. Fortunately, I was able to get my favorite table (next to the electrical outlet). The regular guitar player is here so I settle down to coffee and southern breakfast – only $4.95.

It turns out the tourists is just one big extended family – children, parents and grandparents, along with assorted cousins. Happily, they packed up to leave just as I was finishing my breakfast and thinking about what I might write. I find it difficult to write as I eavesdrop on the neighboring conversations – a favorite pastime I’ve developed from my time in New York coffee shops.

There was a bright red strawberry on my plate this morning. Is this too a sign of spring, or a sign of a new cook at the Beanstreet? Other signs inform me that hope for life abounds: crocuses are beginning to push their heads through the cold and hard soil. And next weekend is the big Organic Growers School and Workshops. I’m so torn. I would love to go to that. However, there are a couple of social events I would like to attend and I can’t do both. I must decide in the next few days.

My spare time has been spent house hunting. I had found a condo for sale on Beaucatcher Mountain a few doors down from my friend’s apartment. It had summer and winter views (meaning the trees don’t block out the distant mountains out in the summer). I however, had not looked around enough to know I had to operate very fast. I was trying to negotiate the price, and someone jumped in and gave the seller the full price. I lost it. My indecisiveness cost me a lovely home that had a deck overlooking forest and mountains. A huge mistake, but it is time to quit kicking myself and get back out there.

I am somewhat discouraged with property cost here. The price range I am working with is very limiting, especially for what I am wanting – which is basically everything. I am finding that I have to give up something. I do a lot of driving by and eliminating before I even go into a home. If the neighborhood is ok, then I look inside. I have stopped looking at anything with one bath. I have been traveling as far as 20 minutes outside of Asheville to look at property, although right now, my preference is to be only minutes away.

I have found a house that perfectly suites me. It’s new construction with 1500 finished sq. ft. downstairs with 2 baths and 3 nice sized bedrooms. It has a large kitchen with a dining room, French doors, gas fireplace and a deck. There is also 900 sq. ft. upstairs, unfinished, but plumbed in for another bath and kitchen. In other words, there’s potential for second income-producing apartment. The lot is set back on the property and the way it is situated, there is some privacy. Best of all, it has a small back yard in which I could put a small garden. It is also minutes away from downtown. In fact, I think it would be close enough to bicycle into town on a warm day. It’s in my price range – meaning I can buy it without selling my apartment in NYC right away – and it’s not much more than rent. What’s the catch? The neighborhood. It’s not a fabulously great neighborhood. Some (not all) of the houses are older and not in great shape. It seems relatively safe though. I plan on going this afternoon and knocking on some of the neighbor’s doors and see what they think about it. I know that this area (West Asheville) is considered affordable housing for young couples and families. I have spoken with a few people who have lived in Asheville for years. Some say W. Asheville is the growth area in the coming years. I wish I had some trusted friend here, who knows what I want and could give me an opinion. Marcia’s son, who would know about Asheville, is out of town until April. Anyone out there willing to adventure a guess as to what I should do? Take this one, or keep looking. Bare in mind, I have driven by perhaps 20 houses, and looked inside about 10 of those.

Actually, I have gotten a second opinion. Several weeks ago, a woman came in to Allegra to order second sheets for her letterhead. I noticed she is an artist. Because of some confusion about what kind of paper she was actually needing, she came to me a number of times. Once, she came in and laughingly said, “Remember me?” I said the first thing that popped into my head, “Of course, my favorite artist.” After we settled our business transaction, she invited me to come to her Studio Opening the following weekend. I accepted the invitation and invited my friend Karen (whom I’ve mentioned before – she’s also an artist and just opened her new gallery in town) to go with me. It was on a Sunday afternoon in an industrial area by the river that has been converted to studios and parks. I had a lovely time and got to know both my artist friends a little better.

Last week, as I was thinking of people who might be able to tell me something about the West Asheville neighborhood, I thought of Betty and gave her a call. We talked a few minutes and then she offered to go with me and take a look. I think once again this shows how open people are here. We went out there and I was grateful to her for pointing out things I might have missed. She too fell in love with the house. But she is just as ambiguous about the neighborhood as I am. I also realize that she doesn’t know me well and what my goals are. I think the house is a great starter home for me, one I can live in for a few years, finish the upstairs and make a second apartment, and then if I want something different (like travel), I can have two income producers for me.

What do you think?

In the work arena, all of the sudden Croft Communications is getting some attention again (after a very dead last year). In other words, a couple of past business contacts are asking for art and design work. I am really hoping to help them out because, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be self-employed again! I don’t know how I am going to house hunt, work full time and engage in a growing social life here in Asheville. Somehow, life isn’t slowing down for me at all just yet.

I must just have a knack for finding the right places to be. The last time I was writing at Beanstreet, I was invited to join a book club. I bought “The Life of Pi” and couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it. Since then, I have ran into two of the members at other places, one shopping at Greenlife, an organic grocery store (another place I seem to run into people I’ve just met) and the other at a social event. This morning, one of the three women sitting at the next table, came over and ask if I am a writer. My mind raced through the definition of “writer.” Yes, I thought to myself, I am writing. That makes me a writer of words. I answered, “Not a published writer, at least not anything significant.” I blog, write pr occasionally (and feel terrible inadequate doing it) and long descriptive emails. The questioner introduced herself as Mary Kilgour. She told me she started writing after she retired from the Foreign Service. We chatted a few minutes, exchanged cards, and she encouraged me to keep at it. After she left, I checked her out on the Internet. Of course the “foreign service” captured my attention and I found several review of her self-published work. It can be found here: http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/2003/0311/prntvrs311/pv311rvcrerec.html
Foreign. I just love coming to this café. I meet such interesting people.

So my dear friends, it’s time to go knock on some doors. Then I’m off to Mars Hill for an astrology reading – an annual treat for myself.