I Heart My New Town!

Three things I really love about my new town:

1)Just discovered a just opened-as in last night-art gallery/store that supports local visual and multi-genre artists. So great, and it's with in walking distance to our house.

2)Just discovered that there is a bead store/studio within walking distance with a very decent selection of beads, supplies, space to make jewelry, and jewelry making classes, as well. Yippee!

3)The fact that I can WALK to my yoga classes, then walk to get a Vegan, Organic bite to eat afterwards, and then walk back home.

If I could only describe how hard things were for the past few years, and then to come through, to the other side, if you will, and be living somewhere that we truly feel good about, and can see all of us thriving in. Its just mind-blowing. I am very, very grateful, and really able to enjoy the good times while they are here.
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On a separate note: tomorrow I take The Kid to sign up for Kindergarten. I have to confess that I am feeling a bit nervous about it. With all of the changes going on lately I've really just taken one thing at a time, as they come, and haven't really thought about the specifics of this new transition. Things like, The Kid may-or may not-depending on the schedule he is given by school, be taking a bus to another program. A BUS! By himself. Yes, this I haven't thought about much so as not to induce small scale anxiety attack. I know he will be fine if he does take a bus, and we've raised him to be independent of us, and he'll be with other kids. But, its just, well, he's 5! And it's going to take some getting used to, if this is needed, that's all.

Also, on a larger scale, I have to confess that I don't look forward to spending time in educational institutions, unless they are college campuses, preferably graduate programs. It personally kinda freaks me out to be back standing in a grade school setting. I am naturally inclined to be suspicious and leery of them; their testing and grading and such. And Aqua Man has the same type of orientation to schools, as well. Although, we did already meet the principle and she seemed really cool. Overall, though, me thinks this new phase will be a journey for all of us.

Where In!

Quick moving update: we are in the digs! The POD has been emptied as of yesterday, and today Aqua Man and I unpacked and set up as much as possible. We are tired and sore, but feeling good about the new pad and neighborhood.

While we were doing this, The Kid has been having the time of his life spending the weekend with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. BLESS MY sister and brother-in-law for taking The Kid!

It was so great to know that he was having an awesome time, and the only thing I can say is; holy shit! Did it make things so much easier to get done with having The Kid around during unloading and unpacking and setting up. Wow.

Now finishing up at the old digs and going for our first night at the new.....

Moving On Up

Up until about, um, 2 hours ago I was feeling pretty calm about our move. That is, until I sat down and checked the "to-do list." And despite my very busy day today and lots of running around, the list is still very substantial. Many things need to get done by Saturday, which is when our POD arrives and we officially move in. And a few crucial things need to get done by Friday which is when I will go to the house and clean up before the big move.

Yes, we move three days from today. And, I'm staring to feel a little bit tense about it. Just a leetle bit. How could you tell? Well, my high pitched shrieking at Aqua Man tonight about all of the things that need. to. still. get. done, dammit! Yes, this was probably the first clue.

Yes, logically, I know it will all come together, but, but, but.....they-meaning the people who have been hired by the owners to prep the house for our arrival-aren't done, well, prepping the house for our arrival. And we are moving in on Saturday! Did I say that already? ('What are you doing?!' I want to yell out the few times I've driven by the house over the past three weeks. And I STILL see a work truck there, and still see paint cans and ladders inside the house. 'For f*&k sake, people! The house just needs simple cleaning and painting! You ONLY have to paint a few rooms in a very, very modest size house, clean up a bit, and repair six boards on a back deck. What are you people DOING!?!?')Did I mention that this prep/repair/clean up crew is getting paid overtime to take care of this house? Way to milk the system people. I have to hand it to you there. At any rate, something tells me descending on the house, and yelling this out to the work crew, would not be the best way to start out our new rental relationship. (Yup, I'm quick on the uptake like that.)

I know it will all get done, but, but, but.....they haven't even finished painting the house yet! And, and, they haven't finished repairing the back deck yet! And, what about the yard? Huh? Some damn kids (damn kids!!) toilet papered our soon to be house, and, the current fixer upper/yard crew haven't cleaned it up and it rained this morning and now there is wet, white, smeared toilet paper in the front yard hanging on a big tree, since last Saturday. Yet, I haven't wanted to say anything and step on any toes, seeing that they do officially have two more days until our lease begins to get it all done. BUT, if I drive by tomorrow and see wet, soggy toilet paper hanging in the tree still...

*Sigh*
*Grrrr*
*Insert your favorite expletive here*

New Digs Found

Happy update: We found a really cute rental home in the neighborhood that we really like. The new neighborhood is only a 22 minute express train ride (during the week-about an hour on the weekends) into the city, and about 35 minutes by car. Woot!

I am very excited to be able to live and shop locally, and to be able to get to the city so easily. Aqua Man can walk to the train station for his daily commute and we can walk The Kid to his new school, as well.

In our day to day, we will be able to walk to several parks, the library, a movie theatre, and to the town center where there are many independent shops, stores, pubs and restaurants. Also, (hooray!) there is an independent bookstore and a community yoga center just blocks away from our new digs, and a Trader Joe's (joy!) less than a mile away. Pinch me. Someone pinch me.

Should We Stay Or Should We Go. Now?

One of the big changes that has occurred over the past few months is that we have left our previous residence, moved out of state back to my hometown and have been staying with my family-my sister, her hubby, and their kids to be exact-while we search for a rental home. They have been unbelievably gracious, generous and just overall awesome hosts, not to mention a whole lot of fun to live with. They are known, among family and friends, for their constant generosity and love of having a good time. Living here has been nothing short of mind blowing to see how open and giving they really are to all who come across their paths. So to say that our transition has been "easy" because of how comfortable they have made us feel living in their home is a total understatement.

During this time, we have been looking and looking and looking for places to live. Nothing so far has been the right combination of factors that we are looking for: a neighborhood that we can see ourselves really enjoying living in; the right distance for Aqua Man's work; the right school for The Kid; the right area for me to offer my work; the right distance to the city; the right home for me to work out of; and of course, that pesky little detail of the right price. We have seen A LOT OF CRAP along the way. A lot.

Even though I'm back in my hometown-which I haven't lived in in over 11 years-we are concentrating on finding a place about 30 minutes from here, so it's a totally new area to cover. With the many factors that come with relocating to a new state, especially that The Kid is starting Kindergarten in the fall, we have been very fortunate to not be rushed by my family. Yet, this being said, we so Do. Not. Want. To. Be. Freeloaders!

So after lots of looking and researching and calling and searching we think we've found a rental home. We have a few final details to work out, and possibly by tomorrow it may all come together. And, if so, it could be as soon as next week that we could start moving in.

Even with all of the time that we have been living here-5 weeks now-my family is still saying, "Don't rush. There's no need to move unless its perfect!" Most people would be throwing us out by now!

Good people-you gotta love em-and feel really lucky when you can count them as friends, and family.