Episode 6 Whose Home Is It Anyway?

So here’s a fun rural living twist: I technically have the right to live in this house for the rest of my life – yay me! Lifetime residency! No crown, no castle just a mildly haunted farmhouse with a suspiciously nosy landlord/brother combo.

But let’s talk maintenance, shall we?

Now, I’m not out here trying to redecorate the place with neon signs and lava lamps (though… tempting). I just want to know one tiny thing: who’s in charge of keeping the roof from collapsing on my legally resident head? Because apparently, being granted lifelong residency doesn’t come with a FAQ. Or, you know, basic communication.

So I wrote a polite message – the kind that should probably come with soft music and a scented envelope – asking if we could just write down who’s responsible for structural maintenance. You know, before the floorboards give up like I almost did when I saw that last septic invoice.

But wait, there’s more!

It turns out that someone has been popping by while I’m not home. Super casual. Nothing says ‘I respect your rights’ like treating your sibling’s home like an episode of House Hunters: Ghost Edition.

So I added a second, equally polite note:
‘Hey! If you’re going to wander into the place I live, maybe… I don’t know… let me know first?’

Not to be dramatic, but being silently surveilled and randomly accessed kind of messes with the whole ‘safe and secure in your own home‘ vibe. And let’s be real, nothing screams ‘healthy rural family dynamic’ like needing to formally request not to be surprise-visited in your legally granted residence.

Anyway, here’s hoping for a written agreement and a locked door that isn’t just symbolic.

Lesson of the Day: Apparently, the only thing stronger than blood is a good set of boundary issues and the only thing that enforces peace in rural diplomacy is a lock, a paper trail and a well-timed blog post.