It’s getting real again

We tried last year and failed to make the temporary move to Germany. Many things conspired but this years the stars seem aligned, well, at least more aligned than last year.
The biggest hurdle was to find an apartment in our town of choice, Konstanz, my home town. I kid you not, finding an apartment here makes finding one in Manhattan seem like a walk in the park. Seriously.
It is one of those situations where there is hardly any inventory, even throwing money at the problem is only partially useful, if there ar only 5 apartments to be had in the appropriate size at any given time chances are that somebody else has more money to throw.
It does not help that Germans openly discriminate against families with children. Even my one, quiet, well-behaved almost 10 year old geek boy who wouldn’t dream of ever kicking a soccer ball unless forced by his cruel mother, was appartently unacceptable. Replies just stopped coming after the question “do you have kids?” was answered with “yes” even the quick “but he is sweet and quiet and likes reading and abhors soccer” did not help. Middle- aged couples, no kids are in demand. Pets are more acceptable than kids, it seems.
After an prolonged and very taxing process I did manage to secure an apartment, even a very affordable one. Let’s not, for now, speak about the furniture that I stand to “inherit” from the previous occupant, a 94 year old lady. Let’s not, for now, speak of moving back even temporarily to my home town close to my parents after living 6000 miles away for the last 15 years.
Right now I am tiered and happy to have a place, half the size of our house in California, but who is measuring? I have some furniture although from the looks of it a serious amount of spray paint, glue, wall paint, fabric, creativity and tons of determination will be needed to make this place even remotly fit my idea of design.
Its going to be an adventure for sure – you are welcome to come along.