Mortgage Monday: Finding Our New Stores

All of the other places that my wife and I have lived had immediate access to a variety of both small shops and national chain stores. Now, where we have decided to make our home, there are a number of stores nearby but not as many as we have grown accustom. For many of the places that we once frequented, we have to drive a little further than before which, we are finding, is actually a welcomed change from the places where we once rested.

Just down the road we have many of the essentials just by different names than those that we are used to seeing. There are local eateries, small gas stations, and other stores that line the main thoroughfare just down the street. And, while it seems further than it really is, there are a few of the national retailers just a little further down the road including the local Wal-Mart. On a side note, this is the first Wal-Mart, or any large store for that matter, that I have ever seen which has separate buggy parking.

All of the other stores are either the same distance that we are used to driving or are a little closer than they once were. Ollie’s is a perfect example of this as it is now about 20 minutes away when there were a couple of others that we used to go to that were a 25-30 minute drive from our previous rentals. But there are replacements that are much closer to us including BB’s and some other local stores that offer the same if not better prices.

The only stores that could be seen as inconvenient are the ones that we don’t use regularly. If we need to go to Staples, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, or Babies R Us they are no longer 10 minutes down the road. However, at least a couple of them, Staples for certain, are near my office and usually those trips can be done quickly in the middle of the day. But, again, many of the things that we once purchased there can be found elsewhere and, at the moment, we are still in the process of exploring the local area including the towns immediately around us as well as the Reading area.

We have everything that we need at a convenient distance from our home. There are plenty of options out there some of which we have already fond while others are, as of yet, undiscovered. However, when compared to our previous houses and apartments, we are the most comfortable and relaxed being ever so slightly removed from the retail commotion. We have space, we have room to breathe, and we still have access to everything we need.

Firearms Friday: Finding Local Stores And Ranges

No matter where we have lived in recent years one of the first things that I have done is try to find the local gun shops and ranges in the area. While this was a rather fruitless endeavor in the past when we lived in Bala Cynwyd, the ease with which I am able to find these places has drastically improved in subsequent moves. Our last rental did provide me with some hope as there were a few places within an easy 20 minute drive but I quickly found that either prices were exorbitant at the local chain store or the selection was lacking and the, hole in the wall, mom and pop shop.

Now that we have finally been able to settle into our new home, this task has been rather easy as there is a bounty of options within about a 20 minute drive from our house. Of course, I have yet to visit these places so I cannot speak to the quality of selection or the prices that can be found in the area but given the sheer number of shops I don’t expect this to be an issue. Given my experiences at one of the shops just beyond this search area, in Elizabethtown, the search should provide an interesting mix of both large and small stores with both prices and selection varying across the area.

And that is just the buying side of things… finding a range is even easier. Put it this way, we are not on the Main Line anymore. I haven’t even started looking for a place to practice and I already know of about a half dozen places where I can enjoy this relaxing hobby. I was able to spot all of these places during our explorations of the area over the past couple of years. Literally, no effort in finding these places.

So, in addition to reporting on some of the discoveries and experiences in the local shops and at the ranges in the area, I will be able to compile a list of the good spots to go and the ones where the first visit will likely be my last. With that said, when it comes to price, these places still have a lot to live up to having been spoiled over the years by the deals found at Tanner’s Sports Center. Local is easier but, in the end, sometime you want to go where everybody knows your name… at least until that is the case at the local shop.

Finding Our Geography

For me and my wife, our next big milestone in our marriage is to find a place to live, some place that we can call home. It is something that we have been searching for over the past several years, really since the day we got married. We have taken a few chances since our vows to achieve this dream but nothing has worked out up to this point. Some places haven’t been satisfying for either of us while others were a split decision. But, in the end, finding home is something that we have to both agree upon.

Over the past several months we have been traveling to various parts of the commonwealth, we have seen numerous small towns and driven down countless streets. While there have been a few that have piqued our interest, there hasn’t been any place that has met all of our expectations for a place where we could see settling down for the long haul. It is not an easy decision to make so we are trying to take our time to find a place.

Our latest debate is whether to stay in our current apartment where the rent is quite reasonable and save for a home or do we incur the expense now to rent in a location where we can feel more at home. We keep going back and forth in this discussion as we are eager to move on from the congestion and confinement of our current surroundings but, at the same time, it would be nice to finally move somewhere when we can have the pride of ownership waiting for us when we unload the truck and open the door. Essentially, do we postpone long term happiness for short term satisfaction and comfort? Either option would be a financial struggle

So, with this back and forth still part of our everyday life, we have been looking for a place that meets both the requirements we have for ‘home’. It has taken a lot of time and a lot of errors but we may have finally found that place. Where? I am not going to divulge that information at this point as nothing is ever final until a move happens. Plus I know of at least a few realtors that read this blog and I am curious as to the theories that will eventually surface as to the locations in the area (the area of consideration has not been mentioned to any of them in the past). However, it is safe to say that it is in-between where my wife and I work and within an easy train ride of Philadelphia.

It should be an interesting time of consideration and weighing our options as our lease is set to expire at the end of May. There may be a lot of changes to start the summer or there could be a continuation of the status quo. I guess you are just going to have to keep reading to find out what happens in the coming months.