Pondering

In August, I wrote about a house I own.

We rent this out to a couple with children and have for seven years.

It appears they will be leaving before the year ends.

. . .

I know the place isn't much to look at but it is a roof over your head. I have fond memories of the place. I also have bad memories of the place.

I also know that I am not cut out to be a landlord. I angst over it. I don't like it when the rent is late, I hate it when something needs to be fixed and I don't know how to fix it, and I don't like the idea of "strangers" making a mess of something that belongs to me.

. . .

I inherited this property, along with these renters, in 2000 when my mother died. My mother in her will tied up the property so that I cannot get a loan to fix the place up (and I refuse to put a lien on my own home for this place). Nor can I sell this house and its accompanying acreage without a lawyer and probably a judge to untangle the mess she created. All of this is detailed and it has to do with the dysfunctional family in which I grew up. Nothing like crazy people to make a situation weird.

. . .

We will have to do a lot of interior work to fix the place up. Unfortunately I know the renters have had pets indoors . . . and until we get that cleared out, I can't even enter the place to clean it. Most of the early cleaning, anyway, will have to fall on my husband.

Needless to say he is not thrilled with this.

We might try to sell, but that will entail a good bit of angst, too.

I am feeling most despondent about it all.

***This post has been edited from its original.***