10/03/16: On this day, I embark on a huge adventure (See also: project, boondoggle, disaster) that some have called brave (See also: insane, ridiculous, foolhardy). This is the day King County records Julianne Andersen (that’s me!) as the owner of a 2-acre Vashon Island parcel featuring an extremely neglected 1912 farmhouse and a few pretty cool outbuildings.  I will have officially bought the farm.

TANGENT #1: “Bought the farm” is old-timey military slang for “Died”. From what I understand, the expression comes from folks using their “Death Benefits” (paid by the government to the immediate family of soldiers who die in combat) to pay off the mortgage on the family farm. Not exactly warm and fuzzy stuff. If there’s a personal history metaphor to be had, the 2015 demise of my beloved house on Capitol Hill, AKA “139” is the “Dead Soldier” in this story.

09/30/16: On that day, I paid a bunch of money and signed a remarkably few papers. Buying a house in cash is stunningly less complicated than buying one with a mortgage. Simpler, in fact, than buying a car, which was weird.

TANGENT #2: I know a lot of stuff about words/writing, logistics and real estate (the buying and selling of it as well as, arguably more important, the fixing and caring for it). If you want/need support or input as you’re going through something real-estate-y/home-owner-y, hit me up. I probably know something or know someone who does. That was true of me and live rock&roll for many years, but notsomuch anymore. I am especially good at “Single woman with limited resources” experience and knowledge, since that’s the more advanced difficulty-level version of home acquisition and ownership.

9/13/16: Was the day the property came on the market. I have been stalking the Vashon real-estate market for 5+ years and telling anyone that would listen I was going to buy property on Vashon. I have found and lost at least 4 significant properties for lack of the correct set of resources (Eg: Money, Time, Fortitude). Bear in mind – I was also seeking and competing in the Seattle-city real estate market in 2015, so I was fighting this fight on two fronts. The sequence of events that brings us up to date on the Vashon deal, start-to-signing, happened at a breakneck pace: 17 days. The Seattle/Vashon real estate market is not for the faint of heart. Among the many revelations in this life-changing event: My warrior-princess courage and ferocity can still be summoned when necessary. Also: If I say I’m going to do something, it may take a while, it may seem like jabberwocky nonsense after a time and everyone may get sick of hearing about it, but I will more than likely make it happen.

We’ve come to call it “Black Sheep Farm” and there’s way more backstory. Because this is a big deal for me and a few notable others. So many words and pictures and hilarious asides about Black Sheep Farm are available for your enjoyment! – It’s as easy as clicking that there link below:

Black Sheep Farm

I said I’d buy a farm on Vashon and I bought a farm on Vashon. So there.