I have lived in my apartment for over six years now. I watched most of my kids go from single to double-digits here. I lived here when I married my husband, and we have very many happy (and sad) memories within these walls. But…
The decision was made in springtime that we needed to move, for varying reasons, from new landlords to space requirements. The boys barely spend the night, and when they do it’s on t4e couch, so their bedroom became K’s room not long ago, instead. I keep their mattresses and such for when they do want to stay and sleep comfortably, but mostly they are out there living their lives with work and hobbies and friends, just as teenage boys should be doing. The girls always come, so it only made sense to give them separate rooms, but the point is that it wasn’t needed. We don’t need three bedrooms anymore.
I looked at a lot of 3-bedroom apartments during the great hunt, and I am sad to say they were all terrible. Either they were way out of our price range, the rooms were too small, or it was a dump in a bad neighborhood. At one particular dump, we were about sign a lease, but then a miracle happened and my uncle told me of a friend with a 2-bedroom for rent. I jumped on that. I sent Mark and Bernie to check it out when I was in Salem, and when their reports came back great, I called the landlord and told him I wanted it…no, I don’t need to see it. Yes, I have the money. Ok, see you Tuesday…and then it was ours.
Lease signed and money paid and keys in hand, we unloaded our first few boxes yesterday. It is smaller than the place I have now, with 2 bedrooms and no dining room, but that only means less to clean and clutter. So currently I am purging my house. I wish I had enough time for a yard sale, but I do not. It is however possible I will put a sign on the lawn this weekend that reads “Free Crap” in front of whatever furniture and such I do not want to take.
What I do need is a kitchen island. Just something small. I found the perfect thing on Amazon, but I don’t have 80 extra bucks lying around, so it will have to wait. That and our new tv are the only things I want added to our collection of stuff. Everything else can GO.
I find that unlike literally every other time I have had to move, I am not sad. Yes, I enjoyed it here. We almost always had good neighbors, and our landlord, Frank, was a kind man. I planted all my flowers out front, and spent summers on my porch, and put the tree in the front window at Christmas time. Alas…I’m done here, now. Now, it is time for change.
Neither myself nor my husband have been well this year. Me, more of the physical variety, (though lately things have been very good, knock-on wood,) though the mental plays in heavy right now, especially with all the stress I have been under. Mark is handling his mental health in a new way, but he’s about a mile up the path to healing now…nowhere near the end, but far enough that there no reason to turn back anymore. And so, we look at this new apartment as a fresh start for ourselves, mostly for our health and family.
I am pleased with where we are going, and the new opportunities that are arising, and I am hopeful it means brighter skies ahead. Now, all I have to do is pack up everything I own in the next two days. Easy-peasy. (No, really…I’ve had less time to leave a place before. This can easily be accomplished with focus and discipline and panic.)
Happy Thursday.
PS If you don’t hear from me on Monday, that is 1000% my internet service provider’s fault. We are at war at the moment.
Ham 'N Eggs 