Ughhh.....Money.

Tomorrow we are going to look at a house in Ojai - 40 minutes from where we live right now. Now, this maybe wouldn't be so bad if we were looking at this house to own, but sadly, just to rent. Why you ask - well, we currently live in a two bedroom, one bathroom home that most people across the country would choke to learn what we are paying in rent. But alas, we do live in Santa Barbara, among Oprah, Brad Pitt, Kenny Loggins, Rob Lowe, and the list goes on. I know - people want to live here, so that's why we have to pay the price. That price would be fine if MS and I were both making six figures, but alas we are not. Now, don't get me wrong, we both have decent jobs and are getting paid pretty well, but we STILL can't afford to live where we live with what we need. I can't help but yearn for a yard for my dog to run around in, and my daughter to one day swing in. I would like to actually have a dishwasher so I don't have to spend an hour out of my day hand-washing my dishes, and sigh....a washer and dryer IN my house - what a difference that would make! But at what price do I pay for that? Well, possibly a 40 minute commute one way (add in dropping and picking Kaitilin up from day care, that's an hour both ways). With that also comes the fact that my parents are also a 45 minute drive away (free babysitter, 45 minute drive away). I have been grappling with this idea of commuting for awhile now, and it has been almost consuming my thoughts this week. The rent of this house we are looking at is exactly the same that we are paying now - it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 fenced in years, washer and dryer hook-ups, and the list goes on - everything that I want in a house. But at what price? I have come to the realization that in life, there are sometimes no right or wrong answers, but better or worse decisions. Our reality has changed in the last year - we are a growing family that needs more space, I am not sure that we can continue to live in the place we are living now. And then there's the question of when will we then be able to actually BUY a house?!? Ugghhh...money.