Back from Fredericton

I couldn't post while I was in F'ton, but I wrote notes to post later. Here you go! More soon!

Saturday Night, 19 January
Greetings from Fredericton! I got up at 4:50 Saturday morning and started my trek to Canada. I caught a 7:15 am flight to Boston, rented a car, and arrived in Fredericton at 8:40 pm, Atlantic Time. Subtract the 45 minute stop at L.L. Bean and it took me a hair under seven hours to drive up from Boston. Just before and after the border, in Houlton, ME, I slowed down to about 40 mph and lost some time. The roads were a bit slick so, better safe than sorry. Otherwise it was clear, dry, and fast all the way up.

As I approached the border I was listening to a station of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network – Prairie Home Companion, in particular. That was a hoot. “Live from the Fitzgerald Theatre in Saint Paul…” – minutes from my house – and it was accompanying me into New Brunswick – Minnesota winter jokes and all. When I started to lose the station I switched to the Fredericton CBC station and one of my all time favorite songs was playing, Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin’” – you may know it from the film, Midnight Cowboy. Soon I heard Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade.” Can’t think of better music for the last few miles into town. A quick stop for a Coffee Crisp and here I am!

Some might wonder why fly to Boston and drive. Well, mostly because of a really cheap ticket. Since I needed to rent a car once here anyway… If I flew into Halifax it would be a four hour drive and a plane change. If I flew into Bangor, ME it would be three hour drive and a plane change. At this time of year I prefer to avoid changing planes. Too risky in terms of cancellations, delays, etc. Flying via Toronto – also a change - was just too expensive. And, there’s currently – or at least when I booked the ticket - no air service from Boston to F’ton. The other reason was that I have an old friend in Boston so I figured if I made it to Boston and got stuck we’d just have a longer visit than lunch next Thursday! I like to drive; at least when the weather cooperates. A good car, good music, good weather – that beats a massage in my book. The footnote, of course, is that I hate driving in the dark and this time of year it can’t really be avoided. Add in those damn “Attention – Moose” signs and the anxiety meter goes way up. Nonetheless, here I am!

Tomorrow I’m scheduled to meet the realtor and the builder at 11 and discuss the house plan. Then, it’s something like meet the well driller, the re-design guy, see the actual house that was built according to the plan, etc. Can we pull this off? Stay tuned!

Monday, 21 January
Whew! Yesterday I met my realtor, K, around 11, and we had coffee and a delicious sweet bread courtesy of her husband, H, a German baker/pastry chef. We then met a well driller at the lot just to cover that base. Then we went back to her house and met up with J, the builder, and, after a chat, went to meet with the re-design guy. Then – insert drum roll – we went to see the house that had been built with the plan we had been considering. Long story short we rejected it. But, get this. The woman who lives there is a Ph.D. student in the department with which I’ll be visiting next year. Too funny! We then headed back to K’s where, with another friend of hers, we began a five hour feast. It was one series of tapas-like treats after another. Then, at the table, asparagus with prosciutto and a nice sauce. That was followed by a pea and ham soup that was out of this world. Then we had salad, followed by small pastries with a chocolate mousse-like filling dusted with confectioner’s sugar and accompanied by slices of blood orange. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten food like that prepared by a host. But, then, that’s what he does for a living. I made it back to the house just before midnight and collapsed.

This morning I spent some time looking at house plans and then went to meet with R, a guy who answered my ad on gayspaces.com. We had a delightful conversation – including his homemade cinnamon rolls – and, another long story short, it looks like we’ve got a place to stay this summer. He’s going to his cottage and will rent us his place. Coincidentally it is in the same block as the place we looked at last summer, one street over! Thus, it’s two blocks from the farmer’s market. It wouldn’t work for us long term, but it’s a perfect way to spend the summer! Dog friendly, large yard, downtown… Cool.

I also think we’ve got a house plan. More on that later. Today I also met with the guys at the university, two different mortgage lenders, a construction materials rep, opened a bank account, and picked up the papers on the land from our attorney. All in all a productive day. And, I was so glad I rented a RAV4 as it was snowing most of the day.

Wednesday, 23 January
This morning I had breakfast with one of the guys from UNB. I don’t want to write anything publicly, but I’m hopeful on a number of fronts. I then had a three hour appointment with the re-design guy and the builder. We have a house – well, a plan for a house! Whenever I can figure out how to do so, I’ll post it.

I’ll be posting details to Our Canadian Home when I can, but, in brief it’s 1428 square feet, one story with a full height basement for later finishing. We’re going as green as we can afford – it’s ICF construction – foundation and first floor – and will have a high-efficiency woodstove. Because of the ICF construction, we’ll be able to use that for heat much of the time, but we’ll also have baseboard heat - the norm in new construction, it appears. We’re going to get an estimate on putting in the things (e.g., pipes) that would allow us to add solar later without having to do anything but put the panels on and make the appropriate connections, etc. And, we’ll be adding a rain barrel. If you want to know more, check Our Canadian Home in a few days/weeks!

I didn’t get out of town until around 3:00 and drove as far as Freeport, ME where I spent the night.

Thursday, 24 January
This morning I left Maine and went to visit an old friend outside of Boston. I arrived just before 11 and left just before 3. It was great to catch up and so cool that we’ll be within driving distance. Her twin boys are about eight months older than 6YO. I’m now at Logan airport waiting to board my flight.

Last night I received an email from our realtor in MN telling me that the average listing in our neighborhood is now 100 days and suggesting we list in February rather than March. Lovely. So, I head home, the semester starting next week, with tons to get done at home. Fortunately, I’ve been weeding for a year so it’s really about repairs and some light painting, not days of weeding, sorting, removing.

As I often say, stay tuned!