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So it's official enough for me to say it here: there's a very strong chance we'll be moving within the next month.
It's under positive circumstances for the most part. After getting notice from our landlady that our rent would be going up $200/month, we decided it was time to look for a house to rent with Ratty. We took a few hesitant steps forward, talking about the money situation and what our absolute ceiling would be -- and then we started looking around.
We were very pleasantly surprised by what we found. Housing in the area is still expensive, but we could very likely find something that would result in a net-reduction in rent for most of us! Combine that with the savings that comes from consolidating our utilities and shared accounts, and it makes for a tidy simplification while also improving our living situation significantly.
Snepperboo, I think, is channeling his anxiety into the excitement of the hunt. He's taken lead on stalking Zillow, Craigslist, and a few other places to find potential dens and he's come up with an exciting batch! It looks like good places go fast, so we really have to pounce on anything that looks like an opportunity. Thus, we've got viewings later today, Friday evening, and Saturday morning -- likely with more being scheduled as we get responses from the feelers being sent out.
Personally, I'm pleasantly surprised by the prospect of making a home with my two best friends, of building a place to entertain and comfort friends, of hopefully making friends with new neighbors. I'm excited by the opportunity to whittle down my possessions and build a new space with intention. I'm happy that we'll be able to have more space for Biscuit, and that we might be able to "rabbit-proof" common areas enough that future rabbits will have more run of the home. When the upheaval has time to settle down, I do think this will be very good for us.
There are a few kinks to work out, too. Ratty has an ancient cat that we all love, but that I'm highly-allergic to. We'll also need to start introducing our rabbit to his cat so there can be peace in the household as soon as possible on that front. Ratty rightfully wants his cat to have unrestricted access, which means our rabbit will be the one who needs to be segregated. How easy that will be largely depends on the layout of the house we get, so it's a bit early for solutions there. But we're hoping that the two can learn to co-exist without too much trouble.
I'm hoping that consistent use of anti-allergy meds and a reasonable cleaning schedule will help with the pet dander and hay pollen, but there's always a chance things get more complicated over time. There's also the ever-present clash of lifestyles that can be discovered only through living together. We're all adults who've experienced bad cohabitation situations before, but...it hits different when we're all this close. It can be difficult realizing we're better friends/partners than roommates, and no matter what happens we'll need to stretch our communication and conflict-resolution skills.
But honestly? It's worth it for everything we gain. Chances are we become stronger as a unit and learn how to bond in new, more fulfilling ways. And the change inspires us to make changes within ourselves to be worthy of this better space. We become more considerate, more engaged in our physical space, more attentive to realizing our home's potential to be a haven.
At least, that's what I hope for us. There's a long and uncertain road between this present and that future, and I hope to navigate it mindfully.
I stepped on the scale yesterday for perhaps the first time since Thanksgiving and was shocked by what I weigh: 218 lbs, which I think might be a personal record. I know where the weight is coming from and why; so focusing on my calorie intake while being more diligent about exercise is the best move. I have to accept that there are some things I just can't moderate my consumption of, so I'll need to stop bringing candy and such into the house. Once I find my water bottle and put stickers on it, I can work on replacing the candy habit with a sip of water whenever I get the urge.
I was approached to collaborate on a presentation for the day job next week, which I happily accepted. Basically, a colleague and I will share what we've learned about Bill Coordination with the rest of the team. I have a rough structure for how to present the information, but I'd like to take the opportunity to compare notes with my colleague and see what she's learned. I don't know her that well, and it would be cool to focus on what she wants to get out of this experience and see that she gets it.
This dovetails into a thought I'll have to elaborate on later, if I remember it, but I'm realizing how much people need someone dusting them off, picking them up, and pushing them to improve themselves. Different folks have different needs because of their temperament and where they are in their journeys, but honestly I think that might be the best attitude to walk into a new interaction with. "How can we help each other be our best selves today?"
For now, lots of work, lots of organizing, lots of breathing through uncertainty.
It's under positive circumstances for the most part. After getting notice from our landlady that our rent would be going up $200/month, we decided it was time to look for a house to rent with Ratty. We took a few hesitant steps forward, talking about the money situation and what our absolute ceiling would be -- and then we started looking around.
We were very pleasantly surprised by what we found. Housing in the area is still expensive, but we could very likely find something that would result in a net-reduction in rent for most of us! Combine that with the savings that comes from consolidating our utilities and shared accounts, and it makes for a tidy simplification while also improving our living situation significantly.
Snepperboo, I think, is channeling his anxiety into the excitement of the hunt. He's taken lead on stalking Zillow, Craigslist, and a few other places to find potential dens and he's come up with an exciting batch! It looks like good places go fast, so we really have to pounce on anything that looks like an opportunity. Thus, we've got viewings later today, Friday evening, and Saturday morning -- likely with more being scheduled as we get responses from the feelers being sent out.
Personally, I'm pleasantly surprised by the prospect of making a home with my two best friends, of building a place to entertain and comfort friends, of hopefully making friends with new neighbors. I'm excited by the opportunity to whittle down my possessions and build a new space with intention. I'm happy that we'll be able to have more space for Biscuit, and that we might be able to "rabbit-proof" common areas enough that future rabbits will have more run of the home. When the upheaval has time to settle down, I do think this will be very good for us.
There are a few kinks to work out, too. Ratty has an ancient cat that we all love, but that I'm highly-allergic to. We'll also need to start introducing our rabbit to his cat so there can be peace in the household as soon as possible on that front. Ratty rightfully wants his cat to have unrestricted access, which means our rabbit will be the one who needs to be segregated. How easy that will be largely depends on the layout of the house we get, so it's a bit early for solutions there. But we're hoping that the two can learn to co-exist without too much trouble.
I'm hoping that consistent use of anti-allergy meds and a reasonable cleaning schedule will help with the pet dander and hay pollen, but there's always a chance things get more complicated over time. There's also the ever-present clash of lifestyles that can be discovered only through living together. We're all adults who've experienced bad cohabitation situations before, but...it hits different when we're all this close. It can be difficult realizing we're better friends/partners than roommates, and no matter what happens we'll need to stretch our communication and conflict-resolution skills.
But honestly? It's worth it for everything we gain. Chances are we become stronger as a unit and learn how to bond in new, more fulfilling ways. And the change inspires us to make changes within ourselves to be worthy of this better space. We become more considerate, more engaged in our physical space, more attentive to realizing our home's potential to be a haven.
At least, that's what I hope for us. There's a long and uncertain road between this present and that future, and I hope to navigate it mindfully.
I stepped on the scale yesterday for perhaps the first time since Thanksgiving and was shocked by what I weigh: 218 lbs, which I think might be a personal record. I know where the weight is coming from and why; so focusing on my calorie intake while being more diligent about exercise is the best move. I have to accept that there are some things I just can't moderate my consumption of, so I'll need to stop bringing candy and such into the house. Once I find my water bottle and put stickers on it, I can work on replacing the candy habit with a sip of water whenever I get the urge.
I was approached to collaborate on a presentation for the day job next week, which I happily accepted. Basically, a colleague and I will share what we've learned about Bill Coordination with the rest of the team. I have a rough structure for how to present the information, but I'd like to take the opportunity to compare notes with my colleague and see what she's learned. I don't know her that well, and it would be cool to focus on what she wants to get out of this experience and see that she gets it.
This dovetails into a thought I'll have to elaborate on later, if I remember it, but I'm realizing how much people need someone dusting them off, picking them up, and pushing them to improve themselves. Different folks have different needs because of their temperament and where they are in their journeys, but honestly I think that might be the best attitude to walk into a new interaction with. "How can we help each other be our best selves today?"
For now, lots of work, lots of organizing, lots of breathing through uncertainty.
