House stalking is probably not the same thing as house hunting, but it does mean exercise.

I've been trying to get back into a regular exercise routine, which means getting out of bed at 5:30-5:45am (breaking my "no alarm should ever sound before 6am" rule).  Some days it takes me nearly 45 mins to get myself dressed and out the door, but I pride myself on at least getting some exercise.  One point isn't four points but it's better than no points, I tell my sleepy self. 

I actually really enjoy the early morning walks (perhaps, one day, to turn into runs).  I like being out in the city when it's quiet, watching it wake up.  I like the alone time.  I like listening to various morning radio shows now that I've figured out how to switch stations on my Nano without activating the live pause feature (or whatever it's called--you know, like a DVR, when you can pause and rewind a live broadcast).

And I like exploring the city. I wander down streets I never have reason to visit any other time in my day, or in my life for that matter.  I discover parks (so that's where the [name of city] Junction is!).  I find neighborhoods I like and neighborhoods I put on the "rule out" list.

But over the past two weeks a certain route has emerged.  Every walk I start by visiting the house I refer to as mine, despite not making an offer to purchase (yet).  It's vacant, so I figure it might be lonely.  I say good morning.  I promise to come back again.  I quietly ask it to wait for me.  I acknowledge it's loneliness and recognize it's desire to have a family again, and I assure it that I'm doing everything I can to be that family.  I explain that we just can't afford it at the price the owners who moved out of state and left it alone decided to list it for, but if it can help me out and not let anyone else move in just yet, I really believe it will all work out. 

I pretend to stretch out a cramp so I have an excuse to pause and linger, and sometimes I really do stretch so I have an excuse to touch the front steps.  I'm still working on a way to go into the driveway so I can say hello to my backyard.  I'm thinking I need to "accidentally" drop my keys.  If I'm running, I could toss them and make it look like they flew out of my hands mid arm swing, right?  That should get them some loft and direction.

And if for some reason my walk doesn't take me past it, I feel guilty.  If more than a day or two passes, I feel like I'm letting the house down.  I worry it will get disappointed and refuse to let me be it's family.  But my house wouldn't hold a grudge, I think.  And it would have faith that I'd keep my word and be back soon.

Part of me really believes that the house will pick me because I am (probably) the only one to visit it so much.

I just hope the neighbors don't report a sunrise stalker.

Anything to motivate the health and fitness section of my Vision Board, right?