this is my new home

over the past few days, small moments of “what am i doing?” have crept into my hum of moving, unpacking and getting settled. the quiet here gives me time to query, to think, and to just be by myself without feeling the collective psychic energy of thousands of other people living in close quarters around me. there is definitely a feeling of “space” out here i never felt in the city, as though i can draw a full breath without taking up someone else’s. i have not been so aware of this feeling before when hiking or traveling outside the urban, but am paying attention to it here as a new luxury.

there are many trees on the property where my house sits. i am not sure how far back the lot goes – but it is ringed by large douglas firs and red cedars, birch and alder; invasive himalayan blackberry scrawls against the side of the car as it creeps up the short but twisting driveway and patches of comfrey, mint and bamboo are clustered in the front yard. outside the kitchen window green table grapes grow beside a magnolia tree, and basil sits in pots around the steps – waiting to be eaten. in all, it is a yard of someone’s fancy – the native species here long before the house was built, the introduced plants set down for the aesthetic rather than their function.

inside is painted in the shades of life and imagination – such a change from the beiges and muted tones of my apartment on commercial drive! in the dining and living area is burgundy and rust and goldenrod – all strong and energetic. the bedroom i chose for mine is a salal green, the other is a periwinkle blue (and currently stuffed full of cardboard boxes awaiting storage). i have not yet made my room truly mine, for although the bed has been set up, the clothes remain strewn across the floor and bed and i have not yet unpacked any of the small features that remind me of home.

the one thing i find odd about the house is the wall-to-wall carpeting in *every* room. yes, that’s right – even the kitchen and the bathroom have carpet. why do people do this? if i could make one adjustment it would be to replace the carpet with wood flooring – but renters can’t be choosers as they say (oh way – beggars? renters? whatever)

i have appended a few pictures below so those of you afar can see my new digs. i will post more as i get the other rooms set up, but here is for now.

a big fir in the yard

the living room end of the living/dining area

the dining room end with partial kitchen

i have finished unpacking the living room, dining area and kitchen now. this leaves the bedroom, bathroom and office/storage contents to be organized which I am hoping will be accomplished tomorrow.