Want to Feel Good About Real Estate? Meet My Goldfish Rescue 🐠

Meet Frida, my little comet goldfish and unexpected roommate. She’s been with me ~3 weeks, and watching her glide around her tank is oddly calming—like a tiny, orange meditation session in my kitchen.

Here’s how we met… and what her rescue taught me about real estate, moving, and life.

The Problem Behind the GFI Switches

I was about to list a home. The inspector flagged tripping GFI switches. Electrician swapped them—still tripping. After half a day: the culprit was a fountain pump shorting the system. Meanwhile, the fountain had turned into a slimy, mosquito-friendly swamp.

The sellers were traveling. “Do your best,” they said. The pool guy told me the fish wouldn’t survive the pump swap and—ahem—suggested “the toilet.” Absolutely not.

The First Rescue Attempt (and a Pink Cardigan I’ll Never Forget)

I rushed over, but the pool guy had already shop-vac’d most of the fountain, leaving 5 inches of sludge. One tiny orange fish—barely breathing—peeked through. I jumped in with two mason jars, wrecked my pink cardigan, and… she darted deeper into the muck.

The next day, my car smelled like a swamp (thanks, cardigan). I went back. The fish was still alive—sun-baked and gasping. I scooped her into a vase so at least she wouldn’t die on sludge.

That night, she was… swimming. Slowly. On Day 4, still swimming. Okay, girl—let’s get you a home.

Frida Moves In

A small round tank calmed her for about five minutes. She paced. Stressed. I called my brother (an aquarium guru). He said, “She’s a feeder fish. Flush her.” Nope. Not happening.

His actual advice: 20-gallon tank, filtration, weekly water changes for a month, gravel cleaner, plants, cycling the tank, the whole nine yards. I did it all. (We’re about $300 into this “free fish.” Worth every penny.)

The PO Box clerk even made a little sign: “Save Frida.” And yes—she’s named for Frida Kahlo: resilient, bold, unforgettable.

Now she greets me every morning. I have coffee with a goldfish. Life is hilarious.

8 Takeaways (for Homeowners, Sellers & Sanity)

1. Pre-listing home inspections are gold.We fixed a scary GFI issue before hitting MLS. If you repair items, you don’t have to share the original report—ask the inspector to update it to reflect current condition.

2. Don’t put goldfish in fountains.They’re messy. If you must, research proper filtration and maintenance first.

3. Hire the agent who goes the extra mile.Ask in your interviews: “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a client.” Listen carefully.

4. Downsizing is hard—but survivable.Frida went from a big fountain to a 20-gallon tank. Transitions are stressful, then they stabilize. Same with moving.

5. Everything has hidden costs.Tanks, filters, gravel… it adds up. So do closing costs, HOA dues, insurance, taxes, moving, and ongoing maintenance. Know your numbers before buying/selling.

6. Short-term sacrifice → long-term reward.Saving for a down payment, renting a room to keep a great home—temporary pain can create lasting stability.

7. Don’t give up on the bad days.That little fish fought hard. Keep moving when things feel heavy. Forward is forward.

8. Slow down and enjoy small joys.Nature, a walk, a silly goldfish—micro-moments change your mood and your day.