Thanks...

Thanks Eskielover... I appreciate the empathy and sense of hope. It's really hard when it seems like *nothing* in your life is on-track, you know? I just feel like I've failed at everything, and now, I can't even manage to find a therapist that can help me. My ex-T tried to get referrals for me, he went through his T-network and expected to have 8-10 names... and literally only 1 person replied, and she's too far for me to get to (b/c of work). Ugh. It's crazy.

I still have it on my list to try talking to the board... but it's just not my very top priority right now. Though, I'm sort of dreaming of just moving and getting out of here!

Thanks, Justafriend... yeah, it's crazy here. I guess it's not too unusual that the board is a very tight-knit group that controls everything. They manage to get proxies for voting from most of the owners, so they're able to keep themselves in office pretty easily.

Thanks Sophiesmom.... that's a good point. And, maybe I learned something too - that I need to be *very specific* when I call and leave messages, and not assume they're going to call me back (even though I leave my number). I need to actually say, "could you please call me back and let me know when he's going to be here, I'd like to have him do inside maintenance, and I want to make sure I'm home and don't miss him."

You're definitely right that he's the lowest cost person... he's been doing this for the community forever though, probably more than 20 years, I am guessing. I think they tried to get quotes in the last year or so (especially since he could retire at any point), but everyone else was more expensive (not surprising).

I really want to move, but I get caught up trying to figure out how that would work. I'd like to move out of state... but get anxious about finding a new job and moving without any kind of support network (ie to a place where I don't know anyone). I worry about moving where I'm at... b/c everything had gotten crazy expensive, and I don't know if I want to stay. I'm so close to paying off my crappy little townhouse (which is actually in a really great area) - it seems like I should just stay and enjoy having a paid off house (and using the money that would go towards a house for therapy instead!).

I really wish someone would just come purchase the whole property. The townhomes are really old (maybe 50+ years?) and it's a pretty big chunk of land, right on a major road near the downtown area of a suburb of a major city. The area seems to be doing great, lots of new construction.

Oh well... thanks everyone....