Things have been really crazy lately, but I am now moved into a new apartment a mile from my old one where I had lived the past nearly 4 years. I had been thinking about moving for a long time. The old apartment was cute and had nice hardwood floors, but was really small. I never felt like I could comfortably have people over, unless it was one or two people.... maybe 3.
When I moved into that apartment, it was a really stressful time of my life, and the apartment search was tough, and I was in a time constraint. I ended up kind of settling for that place, but the nice part was that it never had a lease; it was always month to month, so I knew I could move whenever I wanted if I found something better. Well, here we are almost 4 years later. There were things I liked about it. It was close to the lake where I would often take walks or sit on the grass on nice days. But the smallness and the road noise were probably the biggest downsides.
So I started thinking more about it in the last few months, and then in May I actually went to see a few apartments. My criteria was that if I would move, it would have to be an upgrade, and not just for the sake of change. So I found this place at the very end of May. It seemed almost too good to be true! It's only $85 more per month than I paid at the old place, but it is much bigger, (even has a small second bedroom!), has a beautiful roomy kitchen with a dishwasher, has a washer and dryer in the unit, has a secure parking garage which is included in the rent, and is on a quiet street in a nice neighborhood where a couple of my friends live! It's great! I am getting so much more for my money.
So I signed the lease to start June 15, just 2 weeks ago. It's been hectic with packing and going through stuff and throwing away things, shredding old paper documents I don't need anymore, and several trips to Value Village with clothes and odds and ends. I also sold books, CDs, and VHS tapes at a used book store, and recycled some old electronics. I thought I was getting rid of a ton of crap!
Well, I still have a lot of crap. But I am learning to be less sentimental with things. But I am by no means a hoarder, to be clear! I guess I am both sentimental and I keep things for practical reasons ("just in case I might need it someday"). Every time I move I am better at getting rid of things, and I would say I was the most ruthless ever this time! It's good to clean out every now and then. They say it is also freeing mentally, and I think that's true.
I had 9 of my friends helping me move three evenings ago, and it was pretty quick, and I treated them to pizza and beer at my new place when we finished unloading. I have great, supportive friends, and I am really thankful I had so many people helping me with the moving and getting me boxes for packing.
Now I am getting settled in the new place, and just last night I finished cleaning the old place, got the last couple of things that were there, and handed the keys over. My cat is getting used to her new environs, and I think she likes having more space to run around. I have been staying up too late unpacking and trying to get things organized. It's like Christmas! (kind of).
Change is good. I am always a little sad when I leave an old house or apartment though, even if I want to move and think it's a good decision. Those places hold a lot of memories. Of course the memories are in my head too, but a lot of things happened in those places. Like I said, when I moved into that apartment, it was a really hard time in my life. I was not happy to be moving. But I healed and became much happier in that first year I was there, and had lots of good times when I lived there. It's a little bittersweet leaving it behind, but it's also very exciting to start fresh somewhere else. I am excited for the different people I will meet in this neighborhood, and for all the memories that will be made in this place. And to be able to do laundry in my apartment whenever I want and not have to hoard quarters!!
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