I now have competing offers on the house, one with a lot more money and the other with two more weeks to the closing date. I hope the one with more money backs out because money can’t buy time and I still have to land a house in Ottawa. It’s not my decision; the rule is that the first prospective buyer has 48 hours to top a better offer, in this case by dropping the condition that they don’t have to go through with their purchase if their own house doesn’t sell. The deadline is 0900 hr tomorrow.

Either way, my house is sold firm.

I have four appointments next week. I could put off the dentist and the two sopranos from the church choir who want to take me out for lunch, but Thursday’s work party at the choir library is important and Wednesday’s date with the estimator from the moving company is crucial. So I had better take a deep, calming breath and go house-hunting the week after. The Ottawa agent wants me to come between Monday and Friday because his weekends are just nuts — at this time of the year, real estate people work 24 / 7.

A friend from the Y pool offered to put me up in the last few days before the move, when the cats are gone and the packers are at work. That was so sweet! I accepted at once.