it’s all done

The move is finished — at least for 6 months! That’s the plan, anyway. Some financial things have to happen and then we are moving from upstairs to downstairs and we’re done, maybe for our last move ever. (Depending on what happens with health in the long game.)

Friday we had five helpers to do all the drudge work. Saturday and Sunday Katy (our daughter) helped with cleaning up the old place. And today (whew), we turn over the keys and we’re “outa there.” The only short-term lasting effects are aches and pains — which were a little surprising — I expected to be sore after the move but precisely how out-of-shape I am in did come as a surprise and I’m sure that a few days of fewer flights of stairs will help, as well as regularly climbing them will assist our fitness. I think I said in a previous blog that one of the moving days the Apple Health app says I did 16 flights of stairs. Not sure how accurate that is, but there it is anyway.

Initial reactions?

It’s quiet here! We are closer to the airport — but OFF THE FLIGHTPATH. At the old place we were literally right underneath landing jets. We got used to it, but still! Here the windows were upgraded with a government program when the runway was extended, but even without the upgrade, standing outside in the fresh air the planes are a half mile or so to the East.

The neighbors are friendlier. Now, that’s a bit of a strange thing to say because I was the one to approach them, but at the apartments one rarely ran into another human being. The layout of the 3 buildings was such that there wasn’t much reason for people to pass in front of your windows (first floor) and I have never found apartment dwellers all that conversational with neighbors anyway. Here, I’ve made a point to approach the three neighbors I have seen and introduced myself (which I do anywhere I go), shaken hands, chatted a bit and got out of their hair quickly. All three have been nice and welcoming.

Live is going to be a LOT different. With an extra room, a different layout and a long hallway to the bedrooms (which we didn’t have at the last place) the WAY we live in this home will change dramatically. The kitchen will be the biggest compromise as counterspace is a bit limited (or a lot limited) However, I had an IKEA makeup table (5 feet long) that has been making the moves with us since 2010 and we have finally found the perfect use for it!

With the “makeup” table come counterspace I can do food prep with bright light on the workspace and see outside while I’m working. It’s not a well designed kitchen but, hey, we don’t do a LOT of cooking anymore and we’ll adapt.

Adaptation seems to be the keyword to aging. In so many ways. I’m sure it will keep coming up in future chats.