The cost of living continues to rise in Ukraine. In 2002, I moved to Ukraine, uncertain what direction my life would turn. By April 2003, I moved into a one bedroom apartment. I lived there for ten years and four months. After two years of marriage and the death of the landlord and his wife, our rent was increased enough to push us beyond our comfort level. It was time to move.
The logical place to move was closer to Sveta’s family. We moved from the growing tourist city of Illichevsk, 62,000 population, to the much larger, but less expensive city of Mykolayiv 500,000 population. We lived with Sveta’s parents for nine months. During that time, we found a small house with three rooms, under construction, and for sale as-is. It was the best deal that we could see that was in our price range. We bought it in November, and began reconstruction in February.
In ten months time, our contractor was able to complete the following changes and additions. All walls were out of plumb. The were corrected. The house was rewired to meet our needs and modern-day lifestyle. A septic system was installed. The water line connected with the house. The gas line was connected to the main and then to the house. Larger, new window were put in. A heated floor system was installed. One room was altered into a bath/laundry room with a wall separating the house front door and entryway. All household plumbing was completed. Many smaller details were completed to bring the house to the stage that Sveta and I can complete the remaining work on our own.
Here are seven before and after pictures:
The logical place to move was closer to Sveta’s family. We moved from the growing tourist city of Illichevsk, 62,000 population, to the much larger, but less expensive city of Mykolayiv 500,000 population. We lived with Sveta’s parents for nine months. During that time, we found a small house with three rooms, under construction, and for sale as-is. It was the best deal that we could see that was in our price range. We bought it in November, and began reconstruction in February.
In ten months time, our contractor was able to complete the following changes and additions. All walls were out of plumb. The were corrected. The house was rewired to meet our needs and modern-day lifestyle. A septic system was installed. The water line connected with the house. The gas line was connected to the main and then to the house. Larger, new window were put in. A heated floor system was installed. One room was altered into a bath/laundry room with a wall separating the house front door and entryway. All household plumbing was completed. Many smaller details were completed to bring the house to the stage that Sveta and I can complete the remaining work on our own.
Here are seven before and after pictures:
Things are different here. This room was built to be the kitchen. There was no indoor bathroom in the design of this house. We had to make legal changes on documents to make this the bathroom and the middle room the kitchen. I was very happy that construction did not get beyond the point of floor, walls, and roof. We were very blessed to have a contractor in Sveta’s family tree.
The kitchen window was much too big, but that was an easy fix. Gas line, electric and water, everything is ready to go. The sink and wash machine will be moved to the bath/laundry soon. We are enjoying living here while we continue the process!
The biggest factor, as I see it, is that I am a resident of Ukraine, similar to the American “green card.”
Now, an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine would make life so much better.
