Wow, what a traumatic experience it is – selling the current house, packing, shipping, starting anew – house hunting – living a limbo life until you find the ‘perfect’ house – this nomadic existence is for the birds. It’s no wonder I stayed in my first home for thirty years. Not to mention job hunting – but that’s another article.

My real estate woman is fed up with me – why? It’s only been 6 weeks of non-stop searching for the house of my dreams. Well, now I know that either a) the house does not exist or b) it does exist – but I’ll never own it because it’s way out of my price league.

Well, actually, I did find the house of my dreams – but – and this is a BIG BUT – after putting in the Offer – and hiring an inspection company – they found the house was sagging – due to structural problems. I, of course, then withdrew my Offer.

Time is growing thin -- Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming fast – and still I am pounding the pavement looking for THE house. Maybe I’m being too picky. Yeah, maybe that’s it – I want no leaks, no structural problems, reasonable price, close to shopping and close to major thoroughfares for traveling. No, that’s not all – actually – I want a 3 car garage, new carpeting, new appliances, movie-star bathroom, closets galore, French doors overlooking a drop-dead fantastic deck – oh, and don’t forget the hot tub!

Yes, now I’m getting carried away. Actually, I guess you could say I’m looking for the dream home given away by HGTV – furniture included. I’m starting to get out of control – like when you get a box of chocolate candy and you cannot eat just one – at least, I can’t! I want to see another house, then another, then another………I’ve become addicted – to housing! Is there such an addiction? Or am I pioneering a new frontier? Am I making this addiction up as I go along? Is there – will there ever be – an end to this merry-go-round housing madness?

If I stop for a day or two, I start to go into withdrawal. I get in the car and start driving around neighborhoods hoping there is a house that has just freshly gone on the market. I am lurking and prowling neighborhoods like a cat burglar waiting for the right moment to strike.

I even went so far as to threaten my real estate lady that I would start looking for FSBO’s – in laymen’s terms that stands for, For Sale by Owner. That really got her out of bed early – and most eager to start the day with a fresh new outlook on house hunting! How exciting! Hey, I’m even starting to get the hang of the art of manipulation!

So, what happens when I either a) find the house or, even worse, b) run out of houses? What will happen then? You know what they say – when you give up one addiction, you actually trade it for another? Will I start smoking soon? Will I move again? - what will become of me?

Stay tuned – find out how this all turns out with my next, follow-up article….

I just may be coming to a house near you!..........