[spoiledprince]

This is a rant, so please feel free to walk away from it... I just needed to get it out.

I have a small, run down little house in a historic district in Downtown, Houston. It's not the fancy sort of historic where there are plaques to commemorate people and events, its the kind the city and it's high rolling inhabitants forgot about...well, almost.

I lived in this small, one bedroom home with my parents and three siblings up until I was fourteen about. It was bad then, the park nearby was a gang hangout and all the teachers at the schools were the well-meaning, young kind that really wanted to help the area...I suppose that was the start to what lead to this. They wanted change, and the city responded- so while I moved to a nearby suburb with my family, our little home sat in the midst of architectural growth and change.

My life has been plagued with mental disorders, (that's why I'm here) making it hard to work, and eventually the task fell upon my partner to support us...but a work accident left us homeless and looking back into the little house I had grown in... I was scared, to be honest, a good deal of my issues started back there, the house and it's dark interior survived in my nightmares, but I had no choice- my parents house us and we can't stay here forever... then a change of luck, my partner found a great job and we now have more money than I've ever had in my life...but our credit is shot, when he had his accident we burned many bridges trying to survive. So the house, is still our only option, but now we can change it's face, make it a home again. We plan to fix it up, (are in the process of it) and move in until we get the credit fixed and then lease another home, then rent this little house, and give my disabled mother the proceeds. Sounds good, right?

Well, the house is under my name now, and the repairs are underway! The house of my nightmares is disguised, at least, it looks completely different, the anxiety is washed away like a dream... then out of the blue, our beautiful view of the city is blocked by condos, then all the neighbors sell out and cards come, welcoming us to do the same... but I can't. We've put so much into it, and we had such high hopes to help my parents... so we ignore the real estate agents and continue as planned...
But now the man is calling the police on the construction workers, calling the city- no charges have been filed because we're not doing anything illegal, but the stress of the situation is killing me. When we move, we will take our foster cats with us, they'll be indoors, but I'm terrified to think he'll call to report them... I know there won't be enough for them to call it hoarding, and we definatly don't abuse them, but just the idea of someone coming to the door to look around while I'm home alone is so stressful. I feel like crying, I want to back out. I'm afraid he'll make our lives hell until we sell, but I know we can't just sell, we need this place.

That with the fear of the nightmares and the old memories, it just shakes me. I'm losing sleep, I'm terrified and no one sees it as big of a deal as I do. I know he can't legally force us off, but I'm illogically scared of it. The whole area is changing, can my little house and I survive amongst all the cold, tall buildings?

I am going to see this through, but I just need to vent and I need to do it to people who understand. Thank you for reading all of this! It means a great deal.

[hspme]

hi - i can certainly understand why this is causing you such stress, & while i have no words of wisdom, you have my empathy & compassion.
~ e-gad

[fraiser]

Hell, if I had the money I'd give it to you. You are so articulate it's awesome. How many cats do you have? No judgment. They don't need licenses like dogs so I wouldn't worry about the county animal control agent coming by. I doubt they have the power to enter your home. Who is the man doing this to you? The real estate agent? He really wants that property. But he can't have it. Has anyone complained about the cats? If you have a little extra money, I'd have a talk with a reputable lawyer. just to run this by him. You would know the facts and have a big sense of security. That way if your ever being intimidated by the man you can say...talk to my lawyer. It gives you back your power. Try not to worry until you know the facts? Let me know if people are complaining about your pets. I'm curious. Is that what upsets you the most?
?

[spoiledprince]

e-gad: Thank you so much for reading this- your words mean a great deal.

Fraiser: You're always so kind! Money as of right now isn't a great issue- we're on our feet and have more than we've ever had before (thank you for the sentiment)

...I guess I'm really just under a pile of concerns...my worst memories are in that house...then the area is so different now, I don't know where anything is, even if I did, I don't have a vehicle to take me there while my partner works... I'm surrounded by the property of a bully now (literally-all the houses on my block have sold out) and I'm terrified of doing the wrong thing and getting in a confrontation- I can barely face a bag boy, I can't imagine what will happen if I'm in an argument with an angry man. Then, on top of that, it was a bad area when I was growing up, about a week after acquiring it- it was broken into and someone stole the copper wiring. COPPPER WIRING. I'm afraid to be home alone, and something similar happening...even more so to leave the cats there and something happen to them...people hate cats sometimes to a horrible degree.

We haven't moved in, so no one's complained about the cats. We're building a nice room for them in the back- so that would be one cat that is a permanent addition to my home, and three fosters. It's not as if I intend to always have four cats, I want nothing more than to find a good, safe home for the three ladies we're taking care of. But I know that will take a while, and after they go, it won't be long until we find more. We've fostered three litters and two other adults before, and we don't intend to stop. I'm looking into getting a license or permit to be able to continue to do this, but we need their area fixed first.

I know most of my fears are worst case scenarios, but I haven't had the best of luck- to quote my partner "I don't believe in luck...but you have bad luck."
I will look into the lawyer suggestion, if anything just to give me some security and let me know how goofy I'm being.
Thank you so much for this- if anything talking about it has really helped; I haven't spoken to anyone about this in great detail. You're a grand friend!

[gayleggg]

I can certainly see why you are anxious. This is a lot of unneeded stress for you. I hope everything works out for you and your cats. Try to do some relaxation techniques to help get through this tough time. Good luck to you.

[hspme]

spoiledprince ~ i'm w/you as far as getting some relief just from sharing w/another person. i have a tendency to become easily overwhelmed by my thoughts, & it never ceases to amaze me how much better i feel letting them out - whether spoken, written . . . or typed.
i hope things resolve themselves, & improve for you soon.
~ e-gad

[spoiledprince]

Thank you much, e-gad. I'm actually not much of a talker when it comes to these things, but sometimes it just burns up inside me and I need to tell somebody...though there hardly ever seems as if there's anyone to listen. Thanks again for your thoughts!

[bookmadness]

Spoiledprince--

How are you holding up? Any news on the 3rd Ward? Though sometimes hunkering down and no news is a positive.

I was wondering if the fostering agency that you were working with might be able to help with paperwork or whatever legalities you are concerned with regarding the 3 lovely bonus cats in your home. When we have worked with foster groups before they do not place the onus of ownership or licensing on the foster-er, but are simply thrilled to have the daily human contact for those cats so that they are more prepared to be placed in loving homes. Just a thought from a fellow animal lover/rescuer/adopter.

Maybe you could post a sign about "Trained Security Attack Cats!" (With a photo of a ferocious lion?) It would be in jest, of course, but if people have such an averse reaction to them maybe use it to your advantage and it will add a layer of outer protection to your new (well, re-newed) abode.

thinking of you, the cats, and sending xoxoxox
bookmadness

[spoiledprince]

bookmadness,
Thanks for the insight; no there's nothing new but we're heading over to check the mail tomorrow, so I'll know then.
I'm not working with any agency, we have a sort of new technique we're trying out. I don't know if you know about feral cats, but we've been...well, for lack of better words, taming them. We've taken these three from feral to stray, then to domestic. The effects have been so uplifting! But before I get into any bigger of a rant, not many animal groups work with ferals, so we don't have any backing. I hope to be able to get a city permit for them, but while the house is being worked on, I have to worry whether or not I can get it, and what will happen to them if I can't. -sigh-

I love the sign idea, if anything for a laugh. It isn't that the neighbors have a problem with the cats, so much as the 1 "neighbor" that has bought up the property around us...I'm afraid of what he will do when he finds out we have them; there's a woman "across the street" that has a colony, but I'm afraid to see what's happened to them since the purchasing as well.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out, it means a good deal. Much love.