We made it to a month in the new home. Finally, no more workers, all wearing masks, some wearing gloves and booties, are coming in to fix one of the many issues that we had to correct in the new hone. Practically everything is completed.
We actually can use our master bathroom, stovetop and trash compactor. Many pictures are hung on the walls. And upstairs in the main living area, we only have only one box to unpack!!
I could not go shopping for some rugs we needed. But I did find a few things I needed on RugsUSA. So that helped. Now our hardwood kitchen floor is a bit more protected. I never had a hardwood floor in the kitchen. I am learning.
Downstairs is another story. Each day I try to do one or more boxes. We did one already this morning. And I planned to do the others today as well. But I am writing a blog instead. Procrastination is okay during a pandemic.
I can honestly say that this house is beginning to feel like home. Yes, there are some blips. Like my husband asking me where something is, like shoelaces. “Just tell me! You don’t have to get up and show me! I guess you are getting up,” he says with a note of exasperation in his voice.
“I wish I could tell you!” Is my response. “But I am not exactly sure where it is. I know the shoelaces are in a drawer in the kitchen, but I don’t know which drawer. In our old house I would just tell you. But here I have to look.” And even when I look, the item I am searching for is not exactly where I remember or thought I put it.
Now don’t think this conversation would not have happened in our home of 35 years. It would have. Even though the shoelaces were always kept in the same place, my husband never remembered where they were. My brain carried an internal map of almost every item. Now that map has been distorted and corrupted.
When we open boxes now, I realize that I should have labeled things much better. We finally, after a month, found my mouse pad, computer mouse and back up hard drive. Finally.
But we put the wrong one on my computer. There is another hard drive that I needed to find! It took two days, but we found it!
The new house is feeling like home. We both agree, it is a great place to spend the next stage of our lives. With all of our everyday living on one level, it makes sense. An added bonus is the maintenance provided for lawn mower, hedge trimming, leaf and snow removal. No more weekly outdoor chores to get done. Now we can just focus on weeding and planting.
There is the one glaring problem, however: our old home. We had planned to move and then put it on the market, so that we could take our time. Not disrupt the cats as much. And do a peaceful move. We did not plan for a pandemic financial crash. We might not be selling our house. The market is not going our way at all.
But then we realize, we actually put the house on the market 10 days earlier than planned. We had no plans to buy a house in March. We were to be in Europe for two weeks celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. In fact, according to our schedule, we were only coming home in time for Mother’s Day. But instead we spent those two weeks unpacking and having the house issues dealt with on almost a daily basis.
I guess for us the silver lining of the pandemic is the joy of being at home and getting settled, without having to worry about a trip out of town. And for me, having to go between the two homes, packing at one and unpacking at another, gave me the opportunity to keep busy and not focus on the isolation! Another silver lining.
I decided to focus on the good of the move and not dwell on the issues that arose because of when we moved. We are not the only ones who had a move planned in the month of March, April or May. We are all navigating this strange time. I hope everyone can find a silver lining and adjust happily into a new environment.
Most of all, I hope those who are having financial struggles are able to keep their home and find employment and survive. My struggles as silly when I compare myself to others. Sending prayers for all who are going through changes during this unexpected time.
zicharonot 