Because you asked......

Yes, my mother-in-law and her dog, Bama, lives with us right now. 

[ Insert Flashback ]

My MIL grew up in New Orleans.  After her parents passed away, she moved into the house she grew up in.  We have many wonderful memories of events that took place in that house.  From Skibbie's first Christmas to funeral wakes to blowout wedding and anniversary parties.  It was a true family home.

Then Katrina hit.  She didn't lose the house.....not even a branch fell on it.  When the levees broke, she didn't get an inch of water.  The house, located in the highest part of the city, was spared.  But her friends were not so lucky.  Everyone evacuated before the storm.  She stayed. She watched as the city fell apart. 

We begged her to leave, and finally, after the storm, she left and drove to our house in Florida.  After living with us for 3 months, we convinced her to move to FL. "New Orleans will never be the same."    "You are missing the kids grow up."   "We are at the corporate office.  There won't be any moves any time soon."  (We move, on average, every 2.5 years.)

The New Orleans house was a premium property after the storm....no damage.  She sold it to a couple who immediately tore it down and put up a McMansion....go figure.  She bought a house in FL, only minutes away from us.  She moved in on Dec 23, 2005 - 5 months after Katrina.

In June 2006, 6 months after my MIL moved, Big Daddy's company bought another company and offered him a promotion which required us to move to Big State.  It was one of those promotions that you don't turn down.  Big Daddy explained that his mother had just moved from New Orleans and that if she wanted to move with us, the company would have to agree to pay for her move. 

They agreed.  She didn't.

She had lived in this one house in New Orleans for forty-forevers and moving to FL was hard enough.  The thought of moving again was too much to bear.  We left her in FL.

About two years later, she decided that it was time to move to Big State, but the boom had busted and housing prices in FL tanked.  She spent the next two years trying to sell her house. 



[Insert Flash-forward]

So four years, umpteen price reductions and one acceptable offer later, she loaded up the truck and her dog and moved to Little Town, Big State with us.  I drove to FL to help her move and then followed her back.  (Ohhh...that's what happened to the month of June...)

Her household stuff is in PODS.  I have been looking for a house for her for quite a while.  I made an offer on one yesterday.  We'll see what happens. 

Until then, I have a dog and someone who likes to cook living here.