I always thought knicker creep was what happened when I had mistakenly bought a pair of knickers that wasn’t cut to accommodate my generous butt or the elastic in the legs of some old favourites had given way.
But, it appears, knicker creep has another meaning.
Earlier in the year, I was watching Grand Designs, one of my favourite TV shows. An academic and her partner had just built their retirement home and she expressed her delight in its completion by noting it signalled the end of her knicker creep problem.
She was referring to the fact she had been seesawing between two houses and her knickers had a tendency to creep from one house to the other. After a while, one drawer of knickers would be overflowing and the other bare. The situation would be remedied by packing up a pile of knickers to refill the bare drawer. Before long, the previously overflowing drawer, would be bare.
Well, I have a serious case of knicker creep … and bras creep… and nightie creep and – would you believe it? – brown sugar creep and rolled oats creep. I try not to double up on such things as brown sugar and rolled oats. But, before you know it, I am in Perth and cooking some biscuits and the brown sugar or the rolled oats is in Bridgetown, requiring the purchase of another packet of one or the other. Then, somehow, as if by some devilish plan, I am in Bridgetown and the two packets of brown sugar or rolled oats are in bloody Perth.
Then there was the time, when Maus packed for a stay in Bridgetown in the middle of winter, she forgot to pack anything warm for me to wear. I came down in my professional gear and had nothing else to put on. And the times when we only have work clothes and we receive an invitation to dinner; we have to, somehow, look decent in clothes we ceased wearing in public several years ago.
I am used to uncoordinated shoes and handbags and the lack of jackets. I have a wardrobe full of jackets in Perth but only one in Bridgetown. It is a jacket I gave to Maus’ mum many, many years ago because I didn’t need it. It languished in her wardrobe for years and then, when she died, it found its way back into mine. I decided to bring it down to Bridgetown to wear in an emergency. It has had a real work out.
At least, I can be grateful I haven’t been caught with one shoe in Bridgetown and the other in Perth. There is nothing worse than wearing odd shoes. You feel like a real goog.
And then there is the travelling back and forth, and the packing and unpacking and the cleaning of two houses and two gardens to maintain and two of every bill you can think of.
But what are you to do when you can’t make up your mind where you want to live?
Feel blessed, to be able to live in both worlds.
Passion Fruit Garden 
You were not on your own Glenda when I worked for Qantas I got as far as the city and looked down and realised I had different shoe colours on. Lucky I had my car and could drive back home but I had to call my boss and let him know and he wasn’t impressed didn’t see the funny side unfortunately!!!
Gail! I went to work one day with different shoes on. I didn’t realise until I was in the office so I had to wear them ALL day!!!
Both homes are a credit to you both, you work sooo hard they look amazing at the moment with all the colour. I struggle to find a flower suitable for a vase in my place, too much shade. xx
Hi Gail. Shade will do it all the time.
…..meanwhile, contemplate the roses. They are just sublime, Glenda.
Thanks so much Jan. It is the best time of the year for roses.
I have to say that owning only one home, I only have the knicker creep that falls into the category that I thought you were posting about. We don’t call them knickers here and when the elastic goes our expression is that you end up with a “wedgie”… Do you have that expression there? I like Fiona’s idea of hanging them off your gate.
We’re at that stage ourselves where we’d love to have a beach house but we’d also like to live right in the city (Boston). Problem is that both my husband and I are complaining that this house is too big and we’ve got too much property to take care of now so maybe 3 places isn’t going to be a solution. Maybe I should have been a turtle and just haul my house around on my back.
Hi Diane, I have never heard of a wedgie, maybe I have lead a too sheltered life. I think the solution is a city apartment and a small house in the country or the beach. The weather you have, you wouldn’t get much use out of a beach house, would you?
That’s exactly what my friend has done (although he’s got a ton more money than we do & can afford it). He bought a waterfront condo in Boston and he has a beautiful beach house up in Maine (2 states north of here) which is just 1 house away from open ocean. The problem is our real estate prices which are some of the most expensive in the country.
Our winters are very harsh but once summer rolls around we do have great beach weather. Lately we’ve had a hard time getting out of winter but the upside has been that we’ve been having beautiful & warm fall weather. As of last week, I had the windows open & it was like a perfect summer day. Of course, you just never know from one day to the next. You could have the windows open & wake up to frost on the pumpkins the next morning.
I empathize… I have often forgotten where an item is and spent time fruitlessly searching in the wrong location. Well, you know how we solved it… but very different circumstances, relocating from the city & fulltime work has long been on the agenda for us, although in the early days I knew I wasn’t ready, and we’ve used the time wisely… enough, we hope.
Last trip to TA I packed a pair of shoes, I thought… but same shoes, different colours, one black & one navy.
Both your places are beautiful, a lovely dilemma 🙂
Hi Ella, One of the strangest days of my life was the day I went to work in different shoes. I haven’t done it in Bridgetown yet.
Feel Blessed – you both have put a lot of hard work into both properties so enjoy while you can.(You’re young). Your bodies will tell you when it is the right time to care for only one Ponderosa!!!
Garden looks beautiful. Just love this time of year.
Deb x
Thanks Deb, you are right, our bodies will give way sooner or later.
Great story. The polite answer, should you find yourself with odd shoes, is “thank you, I love them so much I have another pair at home”!
Sorry Glenda, I’m not anonymous, my name is Kaye from Bunbury. Love your site.
Hiya Kaye Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting.
Hi Kaye, (I put your name in) The ones at home wouldn’t be exactly the same, in fact, they would be exact opposites – not that any one would notice 🙂
How could I not stop and read a post with a title like that:) It’s a wonderful problem to have.
It certainly is Nancy.
You are indeed very lucky, well except for the double bill problem. Lovely post Glenda.
Have a super day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Thanks Mandy
Delightful post! You need to keep some knickers pegged to each of your front gates…
Fiona. That is a fab idea. They are unlikely to be stolen given the size of them 😦
We offloaded our beach house after experiencing knicker creep and everything else creep, exhausted from the going back and forth, finding ourselves preferring the convenience, relaxation and community of city life. Enjoy it while you have the energy and zest to enjoy both.
We will Sandra.
I share your dilemma Glenda. My stuff creeps between a country house with 20 acres to manage,big gardens, 5 cows ( pets who provide us with fertiliser and keep the grass down) and 8 chooks. The other house is inner city Brunswick,( close to Melbourne) which is, at present, a renovation site. When I am in Brunswick, I never want to leave. When I am in St andrews, I do want to leave as there is just too much work. The country house is beautiful and lacks neighbours: the city house is grungy, the street full of neighbours who I enjoy chatting to. In the country house I have to cook constantly: in the city house I go out to dnner or grab cheap takeaways. In the country, I have to drive everywhere: in the city, I walk everywhere or catch the tram.
The financial burden is a big one and a decision must be made soon for us, though Mr T will never agree.
I like the look of both your houses and what a blessing it is to own two.
Hi Francesca, I am sure it is a dilemma many would like to have 🙂
It is indeed.x
A lovely post, Glenda… you are indeed fortunate to have two such beautiful properties/homes to choose from. Love that you appreciate it. xx
I sure do, Liz.