One week in the new apartment. I thought it would be easier and more fun than it has been because part of me thought this would be the panacea for my financial and philosophical woes. Instead, I feel like I've bit off just a bit more than I can chew and have had a challenge fitting everything in. However, I am seeing some of the benefits, such as my rent being dramatically reduced this month, which has helped me warm up to the place.
The mass of boxes has slowly given up its secrets and been broken down to make room for living. The trick to getting the most out of limited storage becomes a nesting-doll approach -- knick-knacks in knapsacks in backpacks in boxes in the closet. Winter clothes in suitcases under the bed. I stacked two of my old nightstands for a make-shift filing cabinet. Thinking vertically is the best way to use studio space. I'll be hitting up Ikea for a few, cheap wall-mounted shelves tomorrow.
I've walked to the grocery store twice this week. I have always wanted to be able to do this -- fresher produce, more menu variety during the week, and saving on gas and time while avoiding traffic. It has been everything I hoped it would be. My reusable canvas shopping bag has finally seen daylight, too, after collecting dust in storage for the past 5 years. Fewer trips to the store meant bigger loads, and more food than one small sack can carry. This also encourages me to cook more, which means less money spent at restaurants, healthier food -- the benefits go on and on.
One corner of my apartment that's seen a bit more action than the others is my "to sell" corner. Among the amassed items are my photo printer, my ironing board (which I will explain in a future post), various low-use kitchen items (toaster, gravy boat, quadruple-shot glasses), and old DVD's and computer games. I'm hoping to have everything posted on eBay or craigslist this weekend, although I've had better luck with eBay over the past month. Unwanted books are getting exchanged for store credit at the book store down the street.
A busy weekend ahead! I promise pictures of the finished place on Monday!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Aftermath
I am sitting on my ottoman, sandwiched between a wall of boxes and my bed. My laptop is charging contentedly on my wide chest of drawers next to my TV. I can see the kitchen and the closet from here, dark with wall-to-wall stuff. As of tonight, I am completely moved to the new apartment. And my back hurts.
On Saturday, seven of my friends showed up to move me. I've never had the help of more than one or two people in a move before and was blown away by their willingness. Moving is painful but the sense of duty that my friends exhibited that hot afternoon made my heart swell. Even my neighbors commented on the spectacular assembly line of shirtless guys ferrying my belongings to the truck. From start to finish, the whole move took an hour and a half. Can't hire that kind of efficiency! Afterwards, I thanked them with a sushi dinner at the shop on the corner. The best moves end with a spicy chicken roll and a large Sapporo.
When it first occurred to me to downsize, I remember being seized by a sense of destiny. This was only another step in a natural progression that has taken place over the past several years, starting when I moved into my first apartment -- a 600 square-foot one bedroom. It was brand new and so conveniently small. Someone had put a lot of thought into the routine of everyday life, with the flow being to the living room or kitchen, and then the bedroom or the bathroom. I've since longed to recapture that sense of tidy efficiency!
Being that everything has worked out so well since then, I assumed downsizing this time would simply be a matter of finding the right place, figuring out what would fit, and selling or donating the rest. All three have turned out to be difficult. Apartments--good apartments with parking spaces--are few and far between. I've resigned myself to the trashy, dorm-like quality of city apartments. I have a sneaking suspicion that my possessions have been breeding like rabbits since I moved here. And for some reason, San Diegans are only interested in buying something from craigslist if it is sports-related or from Ikea.
Despite things not going as smoothly as I'm used to (I know I've been lucky and am spoiled because of it), my friends and the actual move made up for any troubles I've had. I'm here now, and while I'm not completely happy with the new space, like I've said, it's in a great location and has reserved parking. I managed to sell most of my big furniture items, except for my sofa, which as fate would have it fits really nicely after all.
That can't be said for everything else -- my books are yet without a home and several kitchen appliances won't fit into the few, tiny kitchen cabinets that seem to be coated with five or six layers of industrial white. My stack of to-sell items has grown every day, but I don't really have the energy to go through it all and post it to craigslist or ebay. I'm sure that energy will come as I recover from the weekend. My first two nights in the new place were a little rough sleeping, but I'm learning to put up with the new noises, the new atmosphere.
More to come, including pictures!
On Saturday, seven of my friends showed up to move me. I've never had the help of more than one or two people in a move before and was blown away by their willingness. Moving is painful but the sense of duty that my friends exhibited that hot afternoon made my heart swell. Even my neighbors commented on the spectacular assembly line of shirtless guys ferrying my belongings to the truck. From start to finish, the whole move took an hour and a half. Can't hire that kind of efficiency! Afterwards, I thanked them with a sushi dinner at the shop on the corner. The best moves end with a spicy chicken roll and a large Sapporo.
When it first occurred to me to downsize, I remember being seized by a sense of destiny. This was only another step in a natural progression that has taken place over the past several years, starting when I moved into my first apartment -- a 600 square-foot one bedroom. It was brand new and so conveniently small. Someone had put a lot of thought into the routine of everyday life, with the flow being to the living room or kitchen, and then the bedroom or the bathroom. I've since longed to recapture that sense of tidy efficiency!
Being that everything has worked out so well since then, I assumed downsizing this time would simply be a matter of finding the right place, figuring out what would fit, and selling or donating the rest. All three have turned out to be difficult. Apartments--good apartments with parking spaces--are few and far between. I've resigned myself to the trashy, dorm-like quality of city apartments. I have a sneaking suspicion that my possessions have been breeding like rabbits since I moved here. And for some reason, San Diegans are only interested in buying something from craigslist if it is sports-related or from Ikea.
Despite things not going as smoothly as I'm used to (I know I've been lucky and am spoiled because of it), my friends and the actual move made up for any troubles I've had. I'm here now, and while I'm not completely happy with the new space, like I've said, it's in a great location and has reserved parking. I managed to sell most of my big furniture items, except for my sofa, which as fate would have it fits really nicely after all.
That can't be said for everything else -- my books are yet without a home and several kitchen appliances won't fit into the few, tiny kitchen cabinets that seem to be coated with five or six layers of industrial white. My stack of to-sell items has grown every day, but I don't really have the energy to go through it all and post it to craigslist or ebay. I'm sure that energy will come as I recover from the weekend. My first two nights in the new place were a little rough sleeping, but I'm learning to put up with the new noises, the new atmosphere.
More to come, including pictures!
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