Next Door Neighbors

When we were looking for houses there were 2 for sale on our street, right next to each other.  "How odd!" we thought.  The one we didn't buy was listed for a lot more $$$ (presumably because it is all brick and has a 3 car garage).  But we couldn't tell exactly why because they were using Stepford's Worst Realtors and they take terrible pictures to put on realtor.com.  All the pictures were of the kitchen and backyard and there was one picture of one bedroom.  None of the supposedly amazing finished basement.  The listing also said they wanted 24hrs notice before any showings, so I assumed that Buffy* and Clive* were just private people. 

When we moved into Dream House, Buffy and Clive's house was still for sale.  Note: We didn't move into Dream House until more than 8 weeks after closing.  We met a couple of our neighbors.  Two families came by and one we ran into while the kids were jumping in puddles after a rainstorm.  But we never even saw Buffy and Clive. 

We saw them drive to their house in their BMW convertible and Jaguar.  We saw their kid's Range Rover parked outside.  We knew from internet stalking that they both worked at Mr. Molly's (large) company.  They were around, we just never saw them. 

When we met each of the other neighbors they told us about people on the cul-de-sac but no one ever mentioned Buffy and Clive.  Other neighbors also work at Mr. Molly's company and none of them even knew that Buffy and Clive also work there.  We were starting to think that they were just hermits.

Then their house went into contract!  Which we found out on realtor.com because you are not allowed to put "in contract" on your fancy for sale signs in the Stepford Country Club.  And they decided to have a "Moving Sale."  You can bet your bottom dollar that I was going to check out that moving sale and also Buffy and Clive.

I had a good excuse, Cindy had left me a key to their house and it was only right for me to return it before they moved.  So I went over there.  The driveway was littered with presumably expensive antiques.  I gave them their key and they were actually super-nice people, really friendly and conversational.  They were busy with the moving and they had 2 daughters in college.  I asked them where they were moving to. 

They said, "Just to the other side of the neighborhood.  We needed to upgrade."  Literally, they said that.  To someone who just worked their ass off to afford the $0.5M house next door.  Nice.

Anyway, the next day they came over with a blueberry cake and a week later they were gone, off to their fancy new house on the other side of the Stepford Country Club.

Enter TM - Texas Mike*.  TM moved in next door.  I finally got to meet him yesterday.  I have yet to figure him out 100% and he has basically zero internet footprint so is difficult to stalk.  Here's what I know about TM:

• He is an oncologist at a big university and spends 75% of his time researching ovarian cancer (his job starts next week)
• He moved here from the DC area
• He appears to be living in that 4,645 sq ft house by himself
• He was born and raised in Austin, TX
• He loves food and wine and football.
• He looks like a big teddy bear
• He likes to spend time with his dad and brother (who live in TX)

So based on what I know, I'm super-freakin excited b/c TM seems awesome and reminds me so much of our former next door neighbor from old house (who ironically moved to DC) who we love so much.  I gave him some cookies and told him I'd have him over for a pasta dinner sometime.  Who knows, I may even have him over this weekend for Molly's Mom's Famous Ribs.

* All names have been changed on this blog
** If you are reading on a google reader then you can't see the KEY to the right that explains all my abbreviations