Real Estate Boom…Or Bust
As the children grew, I realized we needed more space. I wanted to move, but I couldn’t myself find a better neighborhood in which to live. I had looked through the newspaper but nothing was right. In addition, the exterior of our house was a yucky green. Both my husband and I hated it. We vowed that one day soon we would re-side, or paint or something!
I had this point been living in that neighborhood about 12 years, and the kids were firmly entrenched in their schools and with their friends. If I couldn’t move, than I could remodel. Many of the “basic” houses in the neighborhood had put on extensions and it really changed the initial floor plan greatly.
A few years before, as the Arts and Crafts counselor I met the person who would become a good friend. She was the mother of the child who broke my finger. She was also a Real Estate Agent. I told her about my house woes. She had been in my house many times, because we would rotate homes for our card games and MahJongg games. Her house was gorgeous. Of course, her house was much larger and all on one level. She had an huge inground pool in the rear and a great covered patio. She had decorated each and every corner of that house and it was fabulous!
I spoke to her about my house frustrations and she said, “ Why don’t you take the test for a Real Estate agent. I have all the literature, and you can come with me when I work and see what goes on. It appealed to me since it was something that said in my brain, “Ahhhh weekends and summers! A little extra money!” I studied what I needed to, registered where I had to and passed the test! When I had my license, I met the broker of the agency she worked for and she was happy to have me join even though it was a part time thing.
To get my feet wet, I shadowed her at work and it proved to be a lot of fun. I know to do the job well, just like any other job, you have to work it and give it your all. You have to project confidence and be friendly, but no too friendly with the people who become your clients. A lot more difficult than one thinks. My friend Sandy was a natural. I was not. I tried to pattern myself after her but she was unique. I also knew it was not going to take over the teaching job that was my secondary job, only to my family. Nevertheless, I managed to list a couple of houses and sold one as well. It didn’t make me rich, but it was a kick. I saw the strangest people with the strangest habits. I could write a book about that whole experience.
Sandy had her group of card friends, long before I was ever included. They all came from the “other side of the tracks” and they were all a bit older. I enjoyed the banter between them and their stories more than the games. It took a long time to see the divisions between them. Being the new “kid” on the block, each one of the ladies would confide in me and talk to me. I realized that everyone wanted an ally.
Eventually, there were social gathering with spouses, for those who had one, and even with the kids. With a normal progression of things, the group dynamics started to play out. I realized that every clique of friends, every group of coworkers, every family, has it’s dynamics and secrets. The problem is if you want to fit in, and be accepted you sometimes have to adopt their code. I was thinking about writing a novel about this group of people. I even have the title, “The Games People Play” but I haven’t yet committed pen to paper.
