which house where?

Whoa! Who knew you could be so busy when you are not working?
Things I can no longer count that have happened in the past couple of days:
-number of times checking craigslist for new rental listings
-number of times management companies have told me to drive by the property before I ask to see it
-number of times I have rinsed out styrofoam dishes
-number of times I have misplaced reading and/or sunglasses
-number of times we have turned around and/or cursed
-number of times we have stopped in questionable locations to pee
-number of times we have been misled by directions given by a computer
-number of times I have thought we found just the right place, if only for a moment
-number of times I have been glad we came here

We have looked at lots of places and have made application on 2 houses, 1 of which we have now ruled out. We have seen a lot of places we never want to live. We have gained a new appreciation for the amount of space money can buy in Missouri. We have mentally committed ourselves to several different neighborhoods. I guess the good news is that there are a lot of good choices.
We think we have narrowed it down to 3 different areas of Santa Cruz, and hope to pin it down further tomorrow. 

In the midst of house hunting, we were making long distance arrangements for our stuff to be moved here. A wonderful new friend of ours named Eric loaded a moving truck for us today and in about 5 days our furnishings will arrive in a terminal in San Jose. Today, this involved several phone calls and faxing of documents, not to mention getting permission for Eric to UN-load 2 rugs which were supposed to stay at our Missouri house for the new owners. This is one day that technology has actually helped me accomplish my goals.

In addition to having dinner at 2 new restaurants I adore last night and the night before, we had a delicious home cooked meal made by my Aunt Kay this evening. She and my Uncle Ben divorced when I was a child, and by our best recollection it has been 46 years since we saw one another. She and her husband Frank live on some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen, with redwoods everywhere in a wonderful 1930's home which is now solar powered. My cousin, Steve, had dinner with us. What a treat! I hope it will be the first of many good times together.

Time to get some rest before powering up for another unreal day in the realty world of northern California!