Dispatch no. 54 - Updates Podcast

I have been busy catching up on your channel this week! I can identify with the whiplash of emotions house hunting brings...it is a whole thing. I love hearing about your observations of the food and vibes of the different places...as someone from Michigan who has lived in Boise, Idaho for my adult life, I feel you. So exciting!

For furniture, do check out estate sales if there are any in your area! I moved a year ago and have been gradually finding nice bits of antique furniture from estate sales for much much cheaper than they would be at a nice antique store. I don't know if they work the same way everywhere, but the company here does about one per month and has a mailing list.

This month/spooky season could be a great opportunity to make some compilation videos of your past costumes. It'll introduce new viewers to other things you've made, and also tap into a new audience? (the kinds who need 6+ hour long videos). I'm no editing wizard, but splicing together already done videos could be a way to navigate issue of timing + travel and also, reducing mental/emotional load.. Stay strong!

Wishing you luck!

Have you considered the Twin Cities in Minnesota? Tim Walz has set the state on the right track, and they have a large LGBTQ+ community, along with a good arts and theater scene. There are many smaller communities around the city center where housing is more affordable, but still close to the action. Winters will suck, but they suck in NY state too. I know you’ll find where you’re supposed to be. Easy to say, harder to do, but keep the faith. In a more spiritual way, not a religious one. 🙂

I know it’s easier said than done but don’t lose heart, love. What’s meant for you will never pass you by. The right house will come along with the perfect budget and you’ll realize why all those others didn’t work out.

I did what you are doing 25 years ago and landed in Watkins Glen, NY in an 1860 Victorian. I know you’ll be able to find something in a community you love if you can spend more time poking around. New York is so beautiful, and over here in the Finger Lakes you can walk in the footsteps of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Plus we have Trader Joe’s nearby.

Holy Cow! We just missed Milwaukee Fashion Week.... https://www.mkefw.com/

Hmmn...Milwaukee is in the top 10 of LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the, US, and I'm seeing a lot of beautiful, homes in your price range (Multi-family is where I'm looking, less competion). This one is much much nicer than the first one I posted, and right in the city. Milwaukee has a lot of historic "polish flats", which explains all the original woodwork. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2632-N-47th-St-2634-Milwaukee-WI-53210/2123353992_zpid/ https://shepherdexpress.com/lgbtq/my-lgbtq-pov/milwaukee-recognized-among-the-nations-lgbtq-friendly-cities/

They're both so beautiful! I'm glad you have an agent who gets you.

Echoing MK here. Consider the Ithaca area. it's a beautiful place to live. I have been living here for 30 years. Ithaca is more expensive than surrounding areas, but within an hour of Ithcaa you can probably find a good place to live. It's 4 hours from NYC by car (if you need to go there), but Ithaca has Cornell, which has a Campus-to-campus bus that provides direct, express service to three locations in Manhattan. Cornell has a fashion department, too, in their school of human ecology, if you ever need access to a collection of garments. I think the ithaca area is more Colorado-like (culturally, politically) that some surrounding areas. Please reach out to me if you have questions or want to chat. p.s. It's pronounced "Ske-NECK-ta-dee" p.p.s IThaca also has a good selection of restaurants, too, although Mexican are few and far between.

FWIW, from an upstate NY native, give Ithaca/Cortland/Dryden/Trumansburg and the Finger Lakes region a chance. Ithaca actually does have good restaurants and is a university town. The Finger Lakes region has lots of innovative winery-associated farm-to-table type restaurants plus stunning landscapes. The cost of living is *so* low compared to where I am now (Boston) - like 2/3 or less.

/waving pompoms for you from Canada, where I can't even afford a house & live with my mother-in-law... I sure hope you find something that will work for you, cause you deserve all the lovely spooky things <3

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you Bianca! That owl house was certainly beautiful, It's something I'd love to find once I'm ready to buy a house. I imagine you're going to face a certain amount of disappointment before you find your house. But if you just keep looking it'll happen!

I found my house when I wasn't looking, just popping the next town along to do some shopping, and drove past it. Cheekily asked the owner if I could have a look atoubd, and put in an offer a day later 😆 It took 6 months to get into the place, but I've now been here over 20 years 😊 It all takes time, but you will find your place and it will be worth it.

And this is what I think of as a historic house. This is near me in Spain... https://galiciaparadise.com/inmueble/house-xinzo-de-limia-galicia-98803gu-pazo/

How lovely that Mum is being so helpful.

Troy house looks delicious!

Full disclosure, I've never been there, but have you considered North Adams MA, home of the Museum of Contemporary Art? There are many reasons for this to be a "no", but there are fun spaces. Sadly, it's also in the process of being auctioned. Zillow has it at 175K https://www.auction.com/details/80-elmwood-ave-north-adams-ma-1578525

For sure keep your eye on Troy and Troy adjacent (like Waterford and Cohoes). I think you would really like Troy. I know we wish there had been a place there when we were looking. The farmers market is amazing, there always something going on, and it seems to be where all the really good food is (out of state transplant opinion).

As someone who grew up in Upstate NY, I just keep screaming, “WHHYYYYY??!!” These are dying towns and they weren’t that great in their heyday. Yes, you can get a great deal on a big fading ruin, but you still have to LIVE there.

I also have polymorphus light eruption. :( UPF clothing has been a game changer. I've had more luck finding UPF clothes than fabric, but I'm constantly on the lookout for UPF fabric so I can make my own.

Neutrogena sunscreen gave me hives, too! Here's a house just outside of Albany that looks yummy, and is just a couple minutes walk from a taco shop, though sadly the roof needs a bit of work: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7-Church-St-Nassau-NY-12123/32251770_zpid/ I've heard good things about Troy, NY. If you go further down the Hudson to sight-see, Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate is worth a tour. I loved it! My piano fingers are crossed for you!

I can imagine the overwhelming chaos of getting everything together in the hunt for your own place. It’s so hard as an outsider trying to hunt down the sort of local information that really could help guide your decisions. Especially with the smaller towns. At least with the bigger ones, there’s a bit more info on Reddit or other forums, but some of the smaller ones are a real shot in the dark. It’s great you’ve been able to visit for a vibe check though! For the places you didn’t get to see, you might look them up on YouTube for video tours—sometimes you can get a vague idea of the place from those in a more visual way than just what anonymous people say in the forums. I can’t give much advice on upstate NY, but from many years working throughout the northeast, it can kind of seem like whiplash going even one town over, the way the vibes are. One thing I can suggest is if you see neighbors out while house hunting, go up and chat with them about living there. At best you can make friends and get good info, at worst you can know you really don’t want to ever be near them again.

Renoed church. 1897. Stained glass. Bell tower. Rental income. New kitchen. MI WI border. 2 hrs to milwalkee 4 hours to Chicago. 175K. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/612-12th-Ave-Menominee-MI-49858/121480737_zpid/

Dinosaur barbecue in Syracuse 😊 College towns can be expensive for real estate. Usually with a little digging there are a variety of food choices. Have you thought about the Berkshires or the pioneer valley in Massachusetts. Some good values and close to cities without being in a noisy place. Great houses around. I’m sure you’ll find you spot soon.

B-E-A-UTIFUL!

Ohhh, house hunting...Can't help much with the ups-and-downs part, but I can help with some resturant recommendations. If you are close to Little Falls, NY (off I90 in the Mohawk Valley) the Canal Side Inn is a gem. If you get close to Ellenville, NY, Aroma Thyme Resturant is fantastic. The house prices are $$$, but you might end up driving by on your way to a reasonably-priced area.

Ive seen a few articles recently about places that are looking for remote workers to move there. Also, consider a split house, trading some space (in an overlarge home) for rental income to cushion your morgage. Some places are advertising for folks to move there: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/08/30/cumberland-maryland-revival/

House hunting can be so frustrating. My first time was not a great experience. We saw 45 houses over 6 weeks before we found the one. Hang in there. You will find your place and people soon. I wish the political system in the USA when it comes to basic human rights was better and consistent. I have enjoyed all your patterns and content. I watch your channel every night. I too have trouble sleeping and staying asleep. I have learned so much from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Totally get the intense dislike of the rollercoaster that is house hunting. Not sure what's available price-wise in Rochester or Ithaca, and they're obviously much further west, but those cities might be worth checking out (though you probably have already!). I'm sending you good vibes for the next round!

I’m sorry to hear that house hunting is not behaving itself. It’s awful and yes, it is the king of uncertainty. Blows the brain in waves. Looking forward to watching the creation of the corset. I truly don’t understand why spoon busks are expensive. Good luck with house hunting. So many things to consider. Fingies are definitely crossed for you. Sending best wishes from Down Under. 🐾🐾🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐾📚🤞🤞🥰💐🇦🇺

We bought our first house about 9 months ago now, in an area we initially rejected. There had been three contracts fall through when we found it. Our offer got rejected the first time (4th contract) and then the buyer’s finance fell through and they asked if we were still interested. We ended up getting the house for 20k less than our first offer. It’s certainly a roller coaster, but this place is perfect for us, and I believe you will find something perfect for you too. Sending luck and a strong boned, incredibly cute, Victorian mansion your way Xx

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/610-E-16th-St_Alton_IL_62002_M77122-66135?cid=soc_shares_fs_ldp

I know you have New York in mind, but you would do really well looking at Alton Illinois, or Edwardsville Illinois. Purple area of a blue state, historic houses everywhere, bookstores, coffee shops, affordable. They are college towns. Generous grants for first time home buyers. As an example: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/415-Bluff-St_Alton_IL_62002_M89679-90706?cid=soc_shares_fs_ldp

There is a large Ethiopian population in Syracuse. And at least one amazing restaurant of same close to the hospital. All the good food is in the hood. Promise.

If this is over-stepping, just ignore. =) Of course, now I'm trying to remember what you said about Syracuse on whether you liked it or not. *sigh* Let me go relisten. There is an 1883 Victorian in Syracuse for $300k. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/308-Park-Ave-Syracuse-NY-13204/2098266469_zpid/

The second house's entry way reminds me of the entry way in Charmed.