We agreed over email to do a simultaneous exchange during the last week in December. I was thrilled. After we made our initial agreement, the wife in this couple wrote back to say her husband had just signed a contract to allow another family to use their home during that week. Would I mind doing a non-simultaneous exchange? This was rather off-putting but I agreed. Wonderful! Let's make a contract, they replied. Considering that this couple did not consider their agreements binding until a contract was signed I realized we had better get one in place before they got a better offer.
The couple in Mexico me were unique in that no one else had ever asked me to create a swap contract before finalizing our exchange. I have asked a few people to do this but never before been asked. Since it was important to them I asked the couple to create their part of the contract first.
Two weeks later my father, who travels with us, told me he was concerned about going to Mexico. The US State Department has issued a warning that escalating drug violence could cause the Mexican government to collapse. My understanding is that the civil war between the drug cartels and the Mexican government is mostly confined to border areas.
No matter, Dad was not comfortable and we need to consider all family members when making our travel plans.
With more than nine months to go before the couple's planned use of our home I wrote to apologize and say that we did not want to go through with making a contract or finalizing the exchange.
The wife wrote back and we began to negotiate. Could I make our place available to them this August and plan to use the home in Mexico a year from now when the violence should be over? Did I know someone else who might want to do the exchange now?
While the wife and I were looking into some options, I received the following email from the husband:
'Hola Nicole,
Unfortunately, your father is a fool!
Why are you dominated by someone so ignorant?
Guess he voted for Husssein(sic) which might give me some insight.
Enjoy your "CHAINS" '
Note: He wrote "Husssein" that way, with the extra "s", then added his own (sic) which is also rather bizarre.
Needless to say, I broke off all further negotiations with the wife (who later wrote to apologize for her husband's behavior). I am thrilled that I discovered his true nature before allowing him in to my home. When we spoke on the phone he came across as a bit off (he shared way too much personal information) but not as crazy as his emails suggest.
I am left wondering how to screen for craziness in future exchange partners. That little voice telling me this might not be a good idea was drowned out by my excitement at the exchangers' lovely home and perfect location. I will try to listen to my concerns in the future so I need not receive further abuse directed at my father, or my President.
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