About the Title ------ How to Say It - Neuer = Noise-se+er ------"A" as in ah, ge-dank-en-gang

What it means: - A New Way of Thinking, a New Path for my Thoughts .

Samstag, Januar 12, 2008

It only took me six months!

I spent my first night in this apartment on July 13, and today is January 12. After only six months, today I met and talked to someone from the other building! At that rate, it will only take another two years or so to get to know all of my neighbors.

There are two buildings here, with four apartments each, two up and two down. We all share the yard and laundry room, and each building has its own carport. I am on the top floor of the building closest to the driveway. From my dining table, I often watch people come and go.

I came in knowing my next door neighbor because we work together. She was the one who told me the apartment was available. But we are both somewhat introverted, so we talk more at work than we do at home. I have gotten to know the nice man who lives below me and who built the wonderful patio on the back of our building. He has three small dogs who are always excited to see me.

Today is my first full day here since December 1, and I am determined to get all of my laundry done. Given that I have to carry my stuff downstairs and outside, I considered buying a portable washer and dryer. On the pro side, I would probably get my laundry done more often. On the con side, however, there's the cost of the machines and the extra cost of electricity, water and gas to heat the water, not to mention the exercise I wouldn't get by going up and down the stairs! And now I see that, also the con side, doing my laundry in my apartment would be one more reason to stay holed up here and not meet my neighbors! Not a good thing for me!

Right now the contents of a box from Wal Mart are spread out on my living room floor, but hopefully by the end of the weekend, they will have been transformed into a small work desk. With that addition, my living room/dining room/office will be complete (and in fact full!) as far as furniture goes. Although I hung a few pictures, several walls are still empty, but I'll get to that. And I have more to do on storing things and finalizing the furniture arrangement in my bedroom.

I am making progress. The more I do, the more it feels like home. Talking to my neighbors today was a step forward.

posted by Shirley Schuette @ 10:14 AM