So I have moved - I am still pinching myself that this is happening, I mean six months ago I would've laughed if someone had told me I would be leaving California behind for a new life in Ohio.
A lot has happened though. A LOT.
I had a really good Christmas with friends and said my goodbyes - some of them tearful I will admit - and made promises that I would be back for visits, a promise I hope I will keep.
My first few days have been eventful though and sadly to say not always good.
But lets focus on the good stuff first. Riverbend is as picturesque as I remember it being form my brief visit and the people have been welcoming - mostly.
I have a truck, nothing fancy, so I can get around and I have a place to live
Home sweet home
Yeah ok it's not the ritz but as a temporary arrangement it will do just fine. And it is mine - I own it outright and that is a first for me.
So the not so good news.
I had a visit from the town Mayor on my second morning - he introduced himself as 'Big' Jim Rennie -he put a lot of emphasis on the big part. Anyway it started ok, he made some small talk, asked me how I was settling in and I assumed he was just being neighbourly and welcoming me to the area.
He totally caught me off guard when he suddenly asked "how does it feel to come in out of nowhere and take what was promised to someone else?".
Jim Rennie
So, apparently, he seems to believe that the land was promised to him at a below market price so he could gift it to his son. I pointed out that I had no idea about that and I bid and won the land fair and square.
"Yes you did win the bid by paying over the odds" was his reply - and yes I did pay more than it was worth but to be fair he could've bid more if getting the land was that important to him. A point that I put to him.
He puffed himself up and got right up close to my face "here is what's going top happen son, you are going to sell the land to me at the price I should have got it for and you can take the loss as a lesson"
I am not joking that was what he said word for word.
I told him that was not going to happen and to get off my land. I honestly thought he was going to take a swing at me but instead he gave me a warning. "If that is how you feel, well ok. People round here don't take too kindly to strangers swooping in and taking what doesn't belong to them though. You have a good day son I'll see you around".
The last thing I want is to be at odds with the Mayor but there is no way I am just going to walk away - I mean firstly I have already put too much into this, secondly why should I take a loss on this and sell it too him at a discount when I won the bid fair and square and thirdly I WILL NOT let this guy run me out of town.
I will just put my head down and keep out of his way as much as possible, hopefully something else will come along and move his attention away from me.
Not a great start to my new life but it is what it is.
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