Someplace to Call Home

The previously mentioned Germany Apartment didn't work out.  We weren't chosen by the landlord.  As it turns out, in Germany as in America, it is unusual to rent an apartment to someone you have never met.  In a traditional society like Germany, a face-to-face meeting is far more important than a collection of emails.  There was too much interest surrounding that apartment than our many emails could overcome. 

Luckily, our persistence did attract some attention, and a phone interview was held with the landlord for our 2nd choice apartment.  Well, if we're honest, my 1st choice and his 2nd, merely because there is a washer/dryer hookup in this one.  (This is more of an issue than I realized until we started apartment hunting.  I only remember one or two other apartments on our extensive list of possibilities had in-unit hookups.) 

The landlord was reassured by the phone call, and we were chosen for the 2nd apartment.  We call it the Dark Floors apartment, because it has dark floors.  We're creative like that.

We do have to start paying rent early on this one as well, which is frustrating.  I really hope this is our most expensive year ever.  The next big purchase will be a house, and the down payment won't be equal to what it's costing us to get married AND relocate. 

Reinhold has started researching honeymoon possibilities for the first week of July, when all our worldly possessions are making their way across the ocean.  We're not sure how much we'll have for that, because this apartment comes without a kitchen installed (as most apartments in Germany do, except the apartment we didn't get.  Kitchens are usually considered property of the renter, much like the furniture in any other room).  A basic kitchen is a few thousand dollars, so there goes the last remnants of our savings (also known as our honeymoon fund).

All things considered, both of us are handling the whole thing pretty well.  It's just exciting enough to overcome any anxiety we might have about being destitute by August.  We keep looking for places to trim a little fat, and the only place would be the wedding.  Whenever that comes up, we look at each other and agree that it's worth it.  For us, having the best adventure we can at our wedding, with our family and friends, is what it's about.  And, interestingly, we are spending less than we would on the same size affair in America.  Some things are more expensive, but after talking to some work friends about their receptions, we are doing really well.  We're far under what we budgeted for the wedding initially, but over when it comes to a down payment on a car, realtor fees for the apartment, kitchen purchasing, apartment deposit, 3 months rent when we don't even live there, etc.

In non-monetary topics, the wedding is a mere 61 days away.  My dress is sized and ready to go.  I have my shoes, my hair appointment for the test run and the day of, and I'm narrowing down my choice of nail polish colors.  R is going to meet with our event planner when he's in the area next month, to coordinate with the priest and discuss the final particulars.  I plan to be available at that time for any questions.  And by available, I mean actively Skype-ing with them the whole time whether they "need" me or not.  It'll be better for everyone that way.

As far as work, I'd like to be done.  It's hard to know my end date, but still be there for another few months.  I'm not a patient person, and I'm excited about something else now.  Work holds little appeal.  Less than it ever has before, even.  But it keeps me entertained, most of the time, and paid.  Considering the previous paragraphs, paid is a good thing.

Rough Waters

We had a little upset in the plan this weekend. We re-ran some numbers, and things were not as we were hoping. 

The wedding that started out moderately expensive has become more expensive, thanks to the shuttle service, cost of photographer (insane over there compared to over here), English speaking DJ vs just German, etc. 

We found an apartment we love, but to get it we have to start paying rent a few months early. We were expecting that, but were hoping for reduced rent/no utilities.  The landlord came back today saying it's all or nothing.

It's just as expensive as we assumed, but were hoping for a break somewhere. So far, it hasn't happened yet.