The Chosen One

This post brings with it my usual spewing and also some fabulous news—we finally found a place! I guess the 275th time’s a charm because today one of the many, many, many, many applications we’ve submitted for apartments was accepted. The next step is to give the owners some sort of offering to show our appreciation for being the chosen ones. Our contract states that we are to bow down in gratitude and present them with one of our children as a thank you just like in that volcano movie. Between you and me, I’m going to try to squeeze in the second child in our offering and hope they don’t notice. Once they sign the contract, there’s no giving them back! Mouahahaha.

I should be very excited right now. I’m killing two birds with one stone: I found a new house and the children will find a new home. But if I were to describe to you how I feel, nausea would be my choice of words. I’m afraid and I have butterflies in my stomach. I feel as if I’m about to sign a contract binding my soul to an eternal life of wearing a hairnet to work. Plus, the kids are starting to grow on me. Damn their cuteness!

If I did a little soul searching I think I’d find that I’m mostly afraid that by accepting this one I’ll be missing out on another amazing apartment waiting just around the corner. It’ll jump out and tease me in all its perfection. I know I shouldn’t be seeking perfection but I never take ‘no’ for an answer and compromising on perfection is a big ‘no’ kicking me in the ass. There hasn’t been a single apartment that has everything I want in my new home. I understand that I will never get everything I want because this is Zurich and I should be so lucky to live here in the first place.

If I were to describe the apartment to you it would sound merely inches from perfection. Actually, no, it would sound centimetres from perfection (I’m European now and thus must represent). Let me describe it to you so you can give me your opinions in the comment section. This is also my devious way of forcing people to start commenting. The place is very large and open with three good sized bedrooms, a beautiful breakfast nook area, a fireplace, a separate living room and dining room, a fabulous and central location, a patio and finally a little back yard for the kids to play in. Sound amazing? Just wait, there’s more. Last and definitely most is an extra room attached to the master bedroom that will become a very large walk-in closet!! In Zurich, if you get a closet period consider your wardrobe lucky.

Looks perfect doesn’t it? Well as expected, there are a few catches. Mom, take a seat and get yourself ready for this one. The kitchen... is... old. Ok, now I’m going to slip this next one by you quickly while your system’s still in shock and hope you don’t notice... the bathrooms are old too!

Whew! That was exhausting. Everything else about the apartment is more than perfect. There hasn’t been another apartment that is closer to what we want. At least not a place we ever had the slightest chance of getting. The bottom line is with apartment hunting in Zurich, compromises must always be made. It’s not like I’m doing the Swiss thing and becoming a permanent fixture at this place. I can always give it a try and if I don’t like it I can look around again next year. On a brighter note, they have offered to replace the bathroom cabinets with a double sink and other pretty little things that will hopefully save me from drowning in its ugly, dark green tiles.

So here I am: thanking my lucky stars that I even got a place, shutting the hell up and finally loving everything about it.

Oh, did I mention there’s a random, fully functional sink in the master bedroom? Shhh, I’m loving it...