first nights

One of the things about moving house is the “getting used” to a whole new way of living. That’s where we are right now in this whole moving house scenario. And every time we do it it’s “different.”

I know that each move is different, that’s not what I mean. As we age details of life that we consider important change; what we are willing to compromise and what are our game changers.

The other day I mentioned that our new digs are both closer to the airport and further from the airport. Closer to that actual property; further from any runway. We’ve been enjoying the newfound quiet. Our new digs are also off a major street — formerly we had daily passes by multiple police/fire/ambulance vehicles with sirens going. Here, not so much. We’ve heard a few emergency sirens but only a dribble compared to formerly.

It’s definitely a quieter neighborhood. Single and two family homes rather than apartments. So the pace of activity is lower. More dog walkers, but fewer people out for pure exercise. It’s the time of year, after all when winter-shut ins start stretching their muscles and we have yet to see them, but the daily, sun or shine, rain, sleet or snow dog owners are out there doing their thing.

Quieter neighborhoods result in better nights sleep. And yet… It’s weird.

Much of our apartment life we owned and lived in a 12 family apartment. Because of ownership I was used to listening for all the noises and smells that go along with ownership: running water, gas, noisy tenants, stuck toilet flushes, there are a gazillion things that your subconscious notices that are part of your “world.” It’s been 20+ years since we sold up and moved into single family homes, and then went RV-ing. In some ways our recently departed residence was like “coming home” because some of those subconsciously listened for sounds were present once again. Upstairs neighbors, across the hallway neighbors, people, sounds, smells, walkers past the windows, you name it.

I said to Peggy just this morning, “It will take some time for this to feel like home.” It’s a lovely place, we are happy to be here, and happy to be near our daughter and SIL, but it’s different. Not good different. Not bad different. Just different.