We were already FIPs, but now we're card-carrying.

In Michigan, in the summertime, there is a huge influx of tourists from Illinois and Indiana, "getting away from it all" on the shores of Michigan. And, despite the influx of cash that comes with them, in many of these quiet beach communities, there has long been some resentment at the invisible part the year-round residents played.

They cut you off in their SUVs without a second glance, they shove ahead of you in line at the grocery store with full carts for their vacation homes when you're holding two items in your hand, they tend to park wherever they want, blocking driveways, sidewalks. They are just oblivious.

So, over the last twenty years, they earned the moniker of FIPs or " ________ Illinois/Indiana People" (you can fill in the F).

Well, about five years ago, Brendan and I came across this little tiny ramshackle cottage in New Buffalo, MI a beach town about twenty minutes from where I grew up. We really wanted to buy it and fix it up, but the place was a total wreck. It was going to be about 400 square feet of total rebuilding, and now that we've lived in our own fixer-upper...we've come to realize that would have been a serious miscalculation.

But, last weekend we decided to go see a place two doors down from it on the same little road, and we decided to buy it. There are only five cottages on this tiny dirt road, and it's so adorable. (You actually own the road.)

And when we walked in, I knew it was meant for us. You know that feeling?

It's so great. You can walk to town, you can walk to the beach, you can walk two blocks to the library, four blocks to the gigantic farmer's market, restaurants, bars, ice cream. And, its actually about twice the size of these pictures b/c the previous owners have basically extended it.

Here it is:






Isn't it the cutest thing ever??

So, anyway, now we're getting a smaller place in Chicago. But who cares?
Yay! You'll all have to come visit and stay!