Happy days here...... my husband has spoken to a friend we met in town..... about living in the apartment over our barn. M would live in the barn for free, his 'rent' being paid with work that he would do around the property for us.
We met M a couple of years ago... he worked at two of the cafes in town, as did his daughter... and now M is working at the local thrift store and living in a tiny efficiency apartment in the center of town. His daughter goes to college and lives in downtown Houston.
My husband and I have discussed this arrangement before, and even asked another handyman to live up in the barn a while back, but he found another place. That handyman didn't want to do 'free rent' for chores... he just wanted to pay rent.
M has been at our house these past two Sundays, working on the property for us, and he loved it out here. He's used to town and city living, but loved this area so much that he was willing to work for free. We paid him for his time these past two weekends, but once he moves in, we'll have a list of chores for him to do, plus other neighbors are always looking for by-the-hour help, and M can still work in town as he chooses.
It's a win-win situation, as my husband calls it....... M gets a nicer and bigger apartment where he has room for his daughter to visit... and we get work done so the chores don't pile up in-between searching for a handyman to do the jobs.
My husband told M about this arrangement while the three of us were having lunch on Sunday...... M was so overwhelmed and taken aback that he couldn't even finish his lunch. He was nearly in tears, and saying that he couldn't believe we'd ask him to "actually live here in this beautiful community." And when we all walked over to the barn so he could look at the apartment, he was overjoyed with disbelief and he said it finally feels like he could have a real home again.
M will be giving notice to the landlord at his current apartment, and giving notice to his boss at work.... he won't be working there six days a week once he moves into the barn apartment, but they will let him work as much as he can or as much as he wants to.
I spent most of today going through the closets of the barn apartment... I took out things we had stored there, and I also took out everything that belongs to our little friend Miss C...... when she comes up here for over-night visits now, she'll sleep in the guest cottage instead of her usual room in the barn apartment.
M will be moving in sometime around the end of this month, but might be bringing some of his belongings every Sunday when he comes here for work. Both my husband and I think it will be a good arrangement for all of us..... M is a quiet man who loves music and books, and he and his daughter have a very good relationship. All of us, especially M, feel as if the sky opened up and sent down a little miracle right here in the hills.
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