Over a year ago now, DH and I decided that it was a financially good idea to move to the same state as MIL and SIL since we were moving from a high cost of living area to a low cost of living area (west coast to midwest). Through family and friend connections he was able to get hired in an equivalent position that paid the same (but given CoL, went further).

We wanted kidlet 1 to be able to be near family more frequently and were hoping to have some more date nights via SIL and MIL (who we do trust with her care) This would also allow us to spend vacation actually traveling on vacation, rather than traveling to see family as my family is on the east coast. So in general, we were closer.

When we moved, MIL offered us her house to stay in while we waited for our west coast property to sell and house hunted here. We gladly accepted and crossed our fingers for a quick sale.

I should note that MIL did not live in this house. She was staying with StepFIL or in her apartment 4 hours away at her main job in the middle of nowhere. We were not required to pay rent, just maintain the house and keep the yard looking presentable as she wanted to eventually put it on the market. It was quite a nice house, where DH grew up, but there was NOTHING to do for a SAHM like myself. I went stir crazy quickly.

Because of the sweet job offer DH got, our belongings had been packed and shipped by professionals. We had our things delivered to this house, intending to store them in the garage and only unpack a few things, like summer clothes and a few toys for the kidlet. Nearly everything fit in the garages. There were a few boxes that we stacked behind the couch in the family room (no basement).

MIL came to visit and see kidlet. DH got a text the next day that the house was like a hoarder's mess and she was going to pay to rent a storage container for our things.

Now, we hadn't unpacked. It was professionally packed boxes, all neat in rows in the garage and maybe 5 in the living room that were all hidden by the couch. No one was coming to see this. We didn't have friends over except for SIL and her fiance and they're reasonable people. But it was too much for MIL.

If we had anything on the counter in the kitchen, it had to disappear. No surface could have any object, even a coffee maker. Heaven forbid the house looked like an almost 3 year old was playing in it. It was never dirty, it was just lived in. But on top of that, her house was not preschooler safe so I couldn't let my daughter play the way she was accustomed. We had pretty well babyproofed our old house and she could explore to her heart's content. Nothing was really off limits. I spent months telling her 'No don't touch that' over and over again. But I couldn't move it or pack it away to keep it safe. MIL wouldn't be happy. Instead we go crazy and I search desperately for things to do during the day with the kidlet so we can work off energy and actually play.

So anyway, MIL orders a storage container and it's delivered, but it can't be placed where she wants it because the delivery truck wouldn't be able to maneuver it into place and retrieve it. So the storage container couldn't hide behind the front garage, it was in the driveway where everyone on the road could see. More conniptions from MIL who tried complaining to the company, but was told in no uncertain terms that the placement couldn't be accomodated.

We packed up the storage container with as much as we could. It was gloriously Tetris packed. Absolutely beautiful, not an inch of space was wasted. But we still had things in the garage, just not as much as before. MIL grumbled, and just decided to never come to the house. If she couldn't see it, it wasn't happening. If we met up with her, we drove a half hour and met at a restaurant.

Finally, FINALLY our house sold and all of our house hunting could proceed in earnest. We put an offer on the property of my dreams and moved out ASAP.

DH and I agreed, never again. It was convenient, and we were thankful, but never EVER again were we going to live somewhere that she had control over. And the month we moved into the new house was the month I ended up conceiving kidlet 2. So I like to think the lack of stress had something to do with it :)