Obstacle # 1

Brea is beautiful!!! We were so nervous that we had packed all of our worldly belongings to be sent across the country and that we would hate it. Turns out, we feel right at home in this tropical paradise! We pulled up to our apartment's leasing office and were so excited to get settled. We were obviously impressed by all of the things we saw around us and couldn't wait to have they key to our new apartment in our hands!

We listened anxiously as Liz, our apartment lady, went over the details of our new home. "Carpet- ooohhh you will love the carpet, it is brand new! Garbage disposal- the one in this unit has just been replaced and has a very delightful hum! There is a ceiling fan in the dining area and refrigerator....we don't have to worry about the refrigerator, your unit doesn't have one. Walk in closet...."

If looks could kill Owen had killed me 10 times over. He angrily mouthed "No refrigerator" followed by "NO REFRIGERATOR!??!" I was certain that Liz, delightful Liz, has simply misspoken and had forgotten to mention the super extra-chilly refrigerator that awaited our arrival in our unit.  She took us on a property tour in a golf cart, where we passed pools, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, gyms/spas, and laundry facilities. She then pulled her cute little golf cart up to our unit where we opened the door to an apartment with NO REFRIGERATOR.  We followed Liz as she led us around the apartment...she was right, the garbage disposal did have a delightful hum. 

3 days go by before we are approved to buy one of our own (being out of state is the shits here when you are trying to do ANYTHING!) Later, when we asked why our unit came without one and why we were never told, she explained that a refrigerator is not necessary for dwelling purposes in Orange County (but a delightful garbage disposal, a few pools, a spa and state of the art gym are...?), in fact, most apartments in Orange Country do not offer them to their residents. So, Owen and I are the proud new owners of this beauty of a refrigerator...it was dented as it was brought over but as long as it keeps water cold, that is all we care about.  Now, off to take a dippy in the pool....