John, Addison and I have just arrived home from our working weekend in Rhode Island. Neither John nor I had ever been to this part of the country and wow were we amazed. We had perfect weather ranging between 60-70 and beautiful blue skies. We arrived after a very painful flight late Thursday night (to include a scratched eye… that I almost went to the ER about because it hurt for two days and a lovely bite on my left arm that has left me with a quarter sized bruise) We were ready to rack out but Addison had other plans. She was exhausted from screaming most of our two hour flight and it was way past her bed time so needless to say she was up and unhappy as were we. She finally fell asleep around midnight and we got some rest before our big day of house hunting!
7:30 arrived and we were out the door for our first appointment with the preschool we plan to have Annabelle attend… It is amazing and we were very impressed. (They actually teach French as well as violin… to three year olds?!?!) After the tour of the preschool we headed to Base housing to see three of the housing areas that we could possibly live in, worst case scenario. Ft Adams was first…Beautiful location and view but really not so beautiful house. VERY small, no garage or basement and basically sucky… sorry but there isn’t a better way to say it… The next two housing areas were even worse and a total waste of time… well, not actually… we now know where we aren’t going to be living. Really low rent and not a place I would be willing to spend our BAH (basic housing allowance) on no matter now much they gave us back. We then had lunch and let Addison play down town in one of the many parks. She had a ball! Dogs are everywhere and Addison LOVES dogs… she ran and laughed and played until we had to meet our realtor Tina.
Tina and I have been chatting via email and phone for a few weeks and we had about 5 or 6 homes to see… some in Newport, some in Middletown and two in Portsmouth. We started in Portsmouth, about 10 miles or so from the War College and the first home we loved so much we cancelled all our other viewings (to include three on Jamestown Island for Saturday) and put an offer on the table… Even offering to pay half of July (they wanted the year to start in July) With the word of the owners realtor, they would “jump” at the offer we wrote the check, signed the paperwork and headed to town to relax and be tourist for the rest of the trip! Ahhhhhhh…. Or so I thought.
That evening, (Friday) I get a call from Tina telling me the owners would really like to have a tenant that rents for three years. They apparently had a person come view the home that was looking for three years but that wanted to change a lot of things the owner refused so they looked else where. That three year lease got stuck in the owners heads and they wanted to “think about it” until Monday. We don’t have until Monday so we told them we had to know something by Friday night or first thing Saturday. All the while I tuck my tail between my legs and send an email to Mary Beth, the realtor on Jamestown Island and basically beg to see anything… then we wait… and wait...
Needing some cheer in our gloomy evening we met up with some unit friends for dinner at The Brick Alley. Pat and Sandy were just great to be around and gave both of us some good insight on what life it like on Jamestown Island and attending the War College. I must add now that I cannot wait to experience all the seafood here! Not being a seafood lover I am really excited about becoming one and even more excited for the girls to get to grow up eating good seafood! Dinner and company were wonderful but all the while I was stewing over the lost house… It seems we aren’t alone with having issues finding a rental with ease… others have shown up to their house with all their belongings (as in the moving truck) only to find a furnished house!?! And another was told the house was going to be on the market for sale and they would have to move out if it sold?!?!? Kinda wacky but we have to have a house.
Our plans were not to worry about finding a home Saturday but rather enjoy our time and the weather. If we had to go home without a signed lease we would be ok. God has a plan and we would just wing it... worst case, we live at Ft Adams.
We hadn’t heard from Mary Beth yet so we decided to just go to Jamestown and find her! Yes, it is that small... We got to the office, she wasn’t in yet but her co-workers knew of our story. She had already cancelled all the viewings for the day but all were military families so all were willing to let us come see the homes anyway. They probably had the same problems we have faced. We FELL IN LOVE with Jamestown… Both John and I felt it reminded us of some place we had been before and when it hit me, Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks, John agreed! It is just like Ocracoke but a little colder… Ok, a lot colder!! Small, quaint, calm and peaceful…It is exactly what we wanted.
So we have two homes we can see but not until the afternoon and one home that we can see now so we decide to drive by two on our way to the one that we can actually get into… the first one is AWESOME!!! Decent view, large and apparently has a great kitchen… I was almost ready to say YES! But after getting burned so badly the night before I thought I’d better see something else before making such a decision. I did feel so confident that I called Tina and took our offer off the table for the first house we found in Portsmouth (no, we still hadn’t heard from them about their decision) We drive by the second house and it was nice too but without seeing inside, it is hard to really decide and besides I was really excited about the first house we had driven by… so off we go to the third, the one we can get inside of. It is on the very south side of the island, the East side, and pretty remote. We turn off the main road onto a dead end gravel street and drive to the very end…. The very end that ends at the ocean… and there is the house. Very unassuming from the outside and looks like any ole house to be honest. It looks rather small too. I was concerned. It had a one car garage and I was trying to be open minded… I walked in the door and I literally gasped trying to catch my breath… The view of this house is something you experience for a week at most when you have saved for years to go on vacation. I still can’t wrap my head around how freaking amazing this house is… Three bedrooms...Three baths... Outside shower (hot water, mind you) and a private walk to the water for diving, fishing and snorkeling!!! I am not kidding... a small back yard, a sun deck over looking the water that apparently the cruise ships pass by during cruise season… and it is furnished!! We only have to bring clothing and toys for the girls!! How great is that? We are 2 miles from a public beach (the water at the house is rocky, good for adults but not so much for children) and 1 mile from the Lighthouse park area…
While seeing this home, Tina called and left a message “Hi Carolyn, It is Tina… after consideration, the first family decided they would like to rent to you” “I guess it is a little too late?” Uhmmmm… Yep, a lot too late it seems!
I really cannot tell you how happy I am. How much God came through for us, as He always does! This house is in a different solar system from the first we loved in Portsmouth. You will see what I am talking about when you visit!! And I expect to see you all! August can’t get here soon enough in my opinion…
Here are the photos,keep in mind these are taken with my iphone. enjoy…Be sure to watch the short video at the end of the photos. It gives a much better perspective of the yard and water. View from the living area- 2nd floor (main floor) 
Right side of living area- 
Left side of living area and view of the outter deck 
Kitchen (where I was standing when I took the outside photos) 
View from basement.. (yes, there is a view from the basement) 1st floor 
View from 3rd floor loft (there is a bedroom as well as a bath up here too) 
View of the "sun room" they used it as a hot tub room but we plan to make it the girls toy room 
Coby Referral Anniversary
13 years ago
