Moving Time Again

Due to, well, a lot of circumstances, my family is moving.  At first I was really upset about this whole thing.  I didn't want to move again.  We couldn't really afford to move somewhere better than where we were at.  In my opinion, we couldn't move at all.  It was a frustrating situation, but it all worked out for the best.

We've moved from an apartment into a trailer park.  At first I figured it was just one of those modular home places that are named mobile home communities even though the houses really don't move, for the most part.  When I arrived I was shocked to see the house we were looking at actually has a trailer hitch right out front!  I was wrong!  It really is a trailer!  There's an RV parked almost across the way too.

I have to admit, when I first got here, I didn't want to give this place a chance.  My first thought was "wow...this is a neighborhood I don't want to be associated with", but I know that comes from being raised with this great idea of status.  People with money simply don't live like this.  A number of the trailers look kind of run down and it definitely doesn't look like a classy part of town.  That almost wrote it off right away.

Well, I'm glad I looked farther.  There were kids playing outside when I got here, and they all seemed to be having a great time.  The place isn't perfect for us, but it's kind of what we need right now.  The kids love the house, and as much as my snobby side hates to admit it, I actually kind of love it too.  There's a yard, though not much of one, and because it's not a fancy high-end neighborhood, they'd have no problems with me putting up a clothes line, just as long as it's secure in case the neighborhood kids try to hang on it.  They'd be thrilled to have me do some gardening as long as I mark it off well so the groundskeeper doesn't mow over it by accident.  There's lots of windows with plenty of light too.  That means a bright, sunny place, not somewhere as gloomy and dark as the last one.  Yes, it's a little drafty and we're going to have to get electric heaters because the gas heat in this particular trailer isn't all that great, but that's something we can work with.  It's warm enough that the kids aren't bothered by the temperature of the house, and that was after having the door open all night and the cold air let in because we were moving everything into the house.

What I like best about this place is the ability for the kids to go outside, and the chance to actually garden.  We may not be able to grow much, but if we can find a good area to grow some vegetables we could save ourselves a little on our grocery bill.  The neighborhood is really quiet and so far all the neighbors seem really nice.  The management is wonderful too.  From what we've been told by the people we've already met, everyone kind of looks out for everyone here, which is great.  We're out in the country too, so we're away from downtown and all the high crime areas.  Someone would actually have to put some thought about coming out here to break in or mess with the property.  Even the mailboxes go unlocked.  We'll even get to go for a decently long walk through the park to get to the mail boxes.  While some might view that as a pain, I think that's kind of nice.  The kids will enjoy going for a walk every day and it's not that far.

Last night I couldn't help thinking it felt like camping when I was standing out by the moving truck, looking up at the stars.  This is kind of a creepy place to live for me.  I've never lived in a place with such a huge expanse of sky.  The little office and the RV across the way give this place a feel of camping, not a place to permanently live.  It just seems like it should be little rows of cabins by a lake or in the mountains somewhere.  They're not the rich and ritzy places, but more the places the average family goes to camp.  It feels like a whole new adventure.  Most importantly, the kids love it, and that makes me happiest of all!

New Year, New Home!

It's the first day of 2011!  We've just spent our first night in our new home.  Many of our possessions were already here from moving throughout the week, but yesterday we got some of the big stuff done.  If all goes well, all of our stuff will be moved, taken care of, and done in no time.

In this new year we will be moving our beloved pets to a friend's house.  She'll be watching them for us for a while until we can put down our pet deposit here, something we won't be able to do until we're a little more situated.  As much as it's sad to know our pets won't be coming with us for a while, I know this will only be temporary and our whole family will be here before we know it.

Already we're settling in to our new home.  Books are put away on the shelves, food was stocked in the pantry.  I'm honestly happy to have a pantry!  With as may cabinets as we have, I wasn't expecting one!  I was also worried about having to spend a good deal of money for starter foods in a new house.  Apparently I hadn't thought about my own spending habits.  I'll admit it, I learned to shop like my family always did.  You always buy more food before you need it and make sure plenty of it is non-perishable.  I've lived that way my whole adult life.  I have to say, it's wonderful to know you have no money for food, then look into the refrigerator to find it empty, only to be pleasantly surprised by a stock of mac and cheese, pasta, and plenty of canned veggies.  As a result, we may still be largely all boxed up, but it's really starting to feel like home!

Yesterday we packed up the kids and waited at the new house.  They sat and played with Play-Doh while the adults took care of moving, unpacking, and everything else.  I got all the chapter books I found put up on the shelves.  I sorted out the toys to be put into separate rooms.  My daughter was thrilled to have her baby doll and her Springfield doll back.  She's only disappointed that her doll clothes aren't here.  I'm sure those will be moved some time today.  We all sat around the house and ate Taco Bell (an indulgence we really couldn't afford, but it will be the last for a long time and we had no pots with which to cook!) while drinking soda.  When the kids started to get tired (but couldn't sleep thanks to the fireworks crazy locals), my daughter and I played card games and on the computer.  I have to confess, it was secretly a moment of homeschooling, but it was fun and kept her busy.  It also kept her brothers out of her hair for a while!

After everyone went to bed, I went and made the house my own.  We still need to spend a good deal of money in making this house an actual home with all the preparations necessary, but that will come in time.  For the time being I threw cleaning rags under each of the bathroom sinks, the kitchen sink, and draped across the center divider of the sink for a dish rag.  I've got them color coded for each area they get used on, just so we can keep track of what belongs where.  We had to get new cookie sheets, casserole dishes, and utensils.  It's amazing how much stuff you lose along the way when you move so much and don't need it.  They all got put away neatly, and I expect them to stay that way!  We picked up a broom, dishwasher detergent, and blue dawn.  At least we know we'll have clean dishes!

Today we have a sad need for more shopping.  Shower curtains are a necessity.  We need cleaners for the house to wipe up the stove, counters, and table.  We need some thumb tacks for hanging things on the walls.  While nails are definitely better for pictures and things, tacks are much easier and hold up pretty much everything we could want on the walls fairly securely.  Besides, there are some things, like artwork from the kids and posters, that tacks are ideal for.  As I'm unpacking, pictures and posters will start going up.  Artwork will start to appear on the walls too, I'm sure.  That's a part of having a real home, not just a place to dump your stuff and fall asleep at night.  I hate to say it, but I've never had that before.  In most of my homes the walls have been these pristine surfaces of white.  Rarely did we put up even a single picture.  I know that was a largely a factor of my ex-husband.  After living with him I was shocked when my partner finally started staying in my room and put his band posters up on the wall.  I wanted to cry.  He just couldn't do that!  The walls had to be bare!  Posters and things were just tacky!  Of course, now I really love it.  I think it really brings out an element of personality in a home.  He tacked up pictures that he and my daughter sat together and colored for me one day.  I still have them.  Now I'm starting to think about the kinds of arts and crafts projects I can make with the kids and hang up on the walls to decorate for every holiday.  We could be in for a lot of fun.

Again, I'm getting side-tracked, but the point is, for the first time in a very long time I look around my house and think, "I'm home."  It's a new year in a new place.  I'm leaving behind a lot of my old friends (though some are definitely going to continue to be a part of my life!) and I'm starting over fresh.  From the looks of it, 2011 is going to be a great year, and it's already starting off on the right foot!

Moving is Right Around the Corner

With moving coming upon us so quickly, I have to say, I'm really excited.  Yes, there are some things I'm dreading about moving again.  It's always kind of stressful, isn't it?  Watching all of your life disappear into boxes only to be opened and put away in somewhere that doesn't feel at all like home.  It's not something that inspires a warm and fuzzy feeling.

I have to admit, I've been pretty optimistic about moving since I've started writing this blog.  In some cases I haven't always felt so optimistic.  In this case, I've got to admit that I'm really kind of done with moving.  With each move we've sworn it would be our last move for a long time, and each time something has happened to change that promise to ourselves.  It's been pretty frustrating.

This time I have to admit that I really am feeling more optimistic about it.  Yes, there are going to be some challenges with this move.  We're going to have to settle in to a whole new place with not nearly enough stuff.  I'm going to have to find a way to decorate to my satisfaction, which will be pretty hard with not enough furniture or things to decorate with.  However, we're going to make the best of it.  It's going to be our own home and we'll have at least a year before we have to worry about moving again!

As much as I've been a bit skeptical about moving in the past, I really am feeling pretty good about this one.  We're going to have our own home again, and I can really step up to be mistress of the house.  I know for many that doesn't seem like something I'd really want.  I'm too much of the kind of person to sit back and watch life drift by merrily.  However, I've come to realize that I need to have power in my own domain.  I need to be able to take charge and deal with something when there's a problem.  After all, if I'm the one with the problem, I'm the one that needs to do something about it.  That's not something that can be done when you share a house with room mates, especially when you feel you aren't all equals in the house.  It was made very clear shortly after we moved in that one person's say was very much ranked higher than everyone else.  However, instead of stepping up and taking action herself when something bothered her, she just let it get to her.  I'm not criticizing her.  It's not my place to do so.  However, that made things challenging.  I didn't feel like I had the right to step up and deal with things I felt needed to be handled because on several occasions, doing so meant stepping on toes.  As much as not doing so caused upset on her part, it was far easier to tolerate her upsets than constantly having to live under her specific rule set.  I'll be honest, I've felt that way with many of the people I've lived with unless everyone moved in at the same time with agreements on how everything would be handled.

I'm looking forward to having my own kitchen again, where I can set everything up the way I like it.  This is a big thing for me since I've always been the one to do the most cooking in every room mate situation we've had, yet I haven't been able to arrange the kitchen in a way that works for me in any of them.  I'm going to have my own private bathroom again, well, my partner and I will.  This may not seem like a big deal, but it's nice to be able to take a shower without having to clear tub toys out of the way first or having children banging down my door because someone has to use the bathroom right that very second and cannot wait!  I'll be able to set up homeschooling supplies without having to worry about any of it being in the way for room mates, or trying to find somewhere to put it all in a home that's already so well established.  I can have the heat and air conditioner set at a temperature I'm comfortable with, and not have to worry about being too cold all the time or unbearably hot.  In truth, I'm just looking forward to living the way I want to live without a whole bunch of rules being imposed upon me.  It's too much the idea of living with my parents, yet I'm a parent myself.  It's a good reminder of why I never could live with my parents again.

I'm honestly just looking forward to getting back to normal again, or as normal as our family ever has.  I just want a chance to be myself without having to be suffocated by oppression, whether these friends believed or intended to be oppressive or not.  In the case of the last person I lived with, I know she and her family had no intentions of ever being the oppressive sort.  It was more that the situation and my lifestyle and habits didn't mesh in the least.  Something had to change, and it did.  I think she and I can be better friends when all is said and done.  In all honesty, I don't know that it's worked out so well for all of the people I've left behind.

Most importantly, I'm finally gaining my sense of stability back again.  I chose to give up that stability last April for some very overpowering reasons.  I was honestly left with little choice.  While that's not something I want to put much emphasis on right now, I'm happy to finally be getting that sense of stability back again!

We Have a New Home!

We've signed the lease!  We have the key!  Now all we need to do is move in!  It's so exciting about finally making this step in our lives, a step back to some sense of normal life.  I really can't wait!  Now if only we had the money to get the electricity and water turned on today!  Oh well, things will happen when they happen, and the first isn't so incredibly far away.

Actually, it's funny how it happened.  We were looking to have a place and move on the first or shortly after.  We didn't truly want to move before Christmas.  We weren't looking for somewhere that would be available now.  As much as we were ready to move and wanted to move, our finances just weren't lined up to allow us to move as soon as we wanted to.  We were going to have to do this the smart way, which meant doing it on the first instead of right this minute.  We had figured exactly how much time it was going to take us to move everything and what kind of time line we were working on.

Last night we went to see the apartment.  It's not in a great section of town, but it's not a bad section of town either.  Even though it was dinner time when we arrived, there were kids out and playing.  The street seems quiet enough.  Actually, the whole neighborhood doesn't seem that busy!  There are a good deal of families.  It doesn't look like it will be that much different than when we were living on post, aside from living upstairs in an apartment instead of a duplex.  We even go to meet our downstairs neighbors, who are pretty nice people.  They've got two beautiful dogs too.  They were honest about the neighborhood.  They hate it.  However, they said that the landlord has always been good to them and they've got to be honest, they've never exactly tried to get to know any of the neighbors, so they don't really know much about what the neighborhood is like.  They just know that outside on a Friday or Saturday you can hear the noise from the string of clubs two blocks away.

The apartment is much smaller than I've gotten used to.  I have to admit, I've been spoiled between living on post and my friend's homes.  I'm used to having more space than I could possibly need.  Looking at this apartment my first thought was, "Where are we going to put everything?"  Then I remembered that after all of our downsizing, we really don't have all that much stuff anymore!  We'll have no problems fitting it all in to our new place!  I'm actually starting to think of the smaller space in a very positive light.  I'm getting excited about having a place that's perfectly sized for our family!

As you enter in there's a small living room.  I'm honestly not sure what we're going to do with the space.  We don't have a couch and even if we did, the area is kind of small.  I'm not quite sure how we'd set it up in a way that would allow us to use the couch and have a television set up.  Of course, that's something we can figure out in the future.  Just beyond the living room is the kitchen.  On the left there are two bedrooms and the bathroom.  One of the bedrooms has an absolutely massive closet!  I think that's going to be the boys room, mostly because it's more practical.  We can fit two beds in there and put the dressers and toy boxes in the closet.  I was actually joking about putting one of the boys in the closet so he can use it as his bedroom!  That's how big the closet is!  My daughter doesn't exactly have a small closet either!  It should be big enough for everything she'll need to fit.  The main bathroom is decently large with plenty of room for teeth brushing and everything else.  We even have a linen closet conveniently close to the bathroom!  The kitchen is surprisingly big for a place that has a kitchen, dining room, and living room.  In my experience, those kitchens tend to be tiny.  There looks to be plenty of cabinet space.  There's a pantry too!  On the other side of the kitchen is a very small dining room.  To be honest, I think we're probably going to want to get a smaller table in time, but for now ours will do.  Being in the back of the house, away from the living room and bedrooms makes this space ideal for homeschooling and crafts too!  The laundry room is just off the dining room. and so is the master bedroom.  The master bathroom isn't anything stunning, but I'm excited to have my own bathroom again that can be a no-kid zone!

Some features I've been spoiled with back home definitely aren't here.  We have no back yard, which is pretty standard in apartments, however, there's also only one door.  It would have been nice to have a back porch or back door.  Then again, I'm also finding that one way in or out is pretty typical of Texas apartments, especially on the second floor.  It's very strange, but even when they do have two doors, I'm finding that on many occasions, the doors lead out of the same room!

However, this place doesn't look bad.  The way I look at it, we'll be here for a year.  A year's time is definitely enough to make an opinion on the place.  If we like it, we'll stay.  If we hate it, well, we've got plenty of time to start saving for another place, and getting our deposit back will definitely help fund moving into a new place.  In all honesty, I don't see us really wanting to move anyway.

This whole thing is very exciting.  I can't wait to get settled in.  I've got a lot of incentive to get everything settled in and in order.  I want to have a house warming party.  I don't know if it's inappropriate to throw your own house warming party or if a friend is supposed to arrange it for you.  I guess it's sort of like the bridal shower I never had, and the baby showers I never had.  However, it's not about the gifts or anything like that.  It's not about showing off our beautiful new home (especially since most of my friends will be living in nicer homes than I am!), but it will be about celebrating getting all settled in to our own place with no room mates to worry about!  It will be about enjoying the fact that once again we have a home.  In truth, we'll probably just end up sitting around and playing cards or something!

So, moving day is looming ever nearer, but I'm not worried about it anymore.  We get all our utilities set up on the first.  We're going to have much of the stuff we're not using moved in before then.  After that, we won't have far to go to get everything into the new place and be completely done!  This is shaping up to be the most stress-free move I've ever made!

Moving Again?

That's right, we're moving again.  I know it seems like I just can't put my feet down for more than a minute before I'm off and running again.  That's kind of how I feel.  It seems like we're in a constant state of change, jumping from one place to the next with reckless abandon.

In truth, it all started with a decision to do what was best for my family.  Had things gone differently, we never would have had a reason to leave the last apartment that would have just been my family.  We would have had some sense of stability, something my whole family really needs.  Unfortunately, for reasons that really aren't necessary to revisit at this stage in my life, that didn't happen.  We moved in with a friend as it would be a temporary situation, at least until we could get our feet on the ground.

As things would have it, that didn't work, and a better opportunity came up.  Then that opportunity didn't work out for it's own reasons, in part because of the great number of people under one roof.  We moved again to a situation that should have been an improvement, but again we're finding this isn't the situation for us.  I'm not going to point fingers or place blame.  No good ever comes of that.  However, we've all just come to realize that we can't live together, for a variety of reasons.  I have to admit, it would be so incredibly easy to go into it all, but the time has come to put the past behind us and look forward to everything coming our way.

Given our situation, there are certain realities we're going to have to face.  We can't afford a beautiful home in a really nice neighborhood.  In truth, we're looking at some of the less desirable neighborhoods, but not necessarily somewhere bad, just less classy.  We're likely going to have to make use of the local laundry facilities as we won't have a washer and dryer.  However, the boys will be able to share a room and my daughter will have her own room again, something that I'm thrilled about.  There should be fewer arguments that way.  I would love to have a place with a big back yard and a garage, but the reality is that's just not in the cards.  Right now what we're able to get is a stable roof over our heads for the next year so we can work on getting our lives in order.  Perhaps in a year's time we can start looking at somewhere nicer that's closer to my partner's work.  If it turns out not to be a terribly bad location, we might even decide to stay and save up until we can move back home or at least into our own house.  Of course, that will mean a lot of repairing damaged credit before then.

In truth, I'm looking forward to this.  I like the idea of it being my family and my home again.  I like knowing I have a place to invite everyone over to play cards.  I don't need to worry about conflicting with something the house mates are doing.  I don't have to worry about anyone but my own family.  If the dishes don't get done, I know they're my family's dishes and I'm the one responsible for them.  It now becomes my choice to do them or not, so if they didn't get done, it's my own fault.  If the floor doesn't get swept, there's no one to complain about it or do something about it but me.  Even better, there's no cat to pee all over everything in the house!  There will just be my family, our rabbit, our snake, and our rat.  Yes, the pets will need to be kept after still, but at least being caged animals restricts their ability to make a mess and damage the place in comparison to a cat or a dog.  I can once again go back to my house and my rules without having to worry about stepping on toes.  There will be no toes to step on aside from my own!

While the idea of moving for yet a fifth time this year makes me want to scream, I'm really happy about it.  I know this will be the last time for a while, possibly for the next couple of years.  This means we're looking at stability, which is something I really feel we need right now.  We'll be in a good solid position to start making a dent in my bad credit and start saving for our future.  Our family needs this right now.  So, while the timing stinks and I'm not looking forward to the work involved, I'm really happy about this change!

Trying to Land on my Feet

It's always interesting to live with someone else, especially when it comes to moving in.  When you're the one moving in, there's all these routines, house rules, and stuff that you've got to learn to work with.  In some cases, it's really easy.  In others, not so much.  In some cases, it's downright frustrating.

I will admit that over the past year I've had plenty of opportunity to take a look at the space around me and learn about each of the people I've lived with.  I've gotten a chance to figure out what works for my family and what doesn't.  It's always easier to see the trends you don't like than the things you want to adopt in your own life.

Honestly, I think it's going to be interesting to see where this particular living situation brings me.  As with every situation, I'm sure there will be some good and some bad.  There's going to be some things we'll all need to learn to work around.

For the time being, I've got to focus on the short run.  I've got to focus on these things one step at a time.  I'm trying to figure out how to find my sense of comfort in this new living situation.  It's going to be an adjustment all over again.  In a way, I look forward to it.  In a way, I'm dreading it.  I just hope that we can settle in quickly and so we can start figuring what challenges we're going to have and how to deal with them.

Downsizing Again...

I feel like a company that's going under.  It seems like every day I'm downsizing.  In part it's because I keep moving into smaller and smaller places with less and less space for all our stuff.  It seems like there's just no way I'm ever going to be a material person again.  I suppose that's a good thing, in a way.  Who needs all of this stuff anyway?  It's just taking up space, space that we don't have right now.  In some cases, I can make a few bucks off of it.  In some cases I'm just tossing it at GoodWill where they can make the best out of it.  It doesn't really matter (though the money would always be nice) because I'm lightening my own personal burden.

Today I've started the process of going through the house to get rid of clothes we don't need again.  A huge bag full of socks just got tossed.  They're socks no one can wear anymore, or those that have been worn to the point of developing their own sentience.  In some cases, their mate disappeared several moves ago.  I had hoped this would happen as I started making socks to replace the store bought ones, but we're not going to be so lucky.  It's time they go.  We'll keep enough around to keep our feet happy, but most of the rest of them need to go on their way.

I'm also going through my dance costumes and accessories.  I've come to realize there are just some I never wear anymore.  In some cases, I never really wore them in the first place.  It's time for them to find dancers that will love them as much as I thought I would.  Clearly, I've developed a much more particular sense of style, and the pieces I once thought suited me so well really don't anymore.  I hope I can make a few bucks off of them, after all, they were all very expensive.  In some cases, they're things I've made for myself and just need to get rid of.  I'd love to keep them, but you do what you must when times are tight, and I can always make more.  I wanted to make a business out of making and selling them anyway!

Finally, I've been sorting through all our other stuff again.  It's time to start wrangling up toys that don't get played with again, though this time it seems like there aren't many to sort out.  Most of the toys are well used and loved.  It's also a good excuse to organize and putt all the like with like again.  That probably won't happen until we finally move, since there's no place for the toys here, and we won't be staying long enough for it to make a difference.

Then there's the clothes.  My oldest daughter is my only daughter.  At this point, I've decided not to hang on to any of her clothes.  If I had a baby girl tomorrow, it would still mean holding on to them all for seven years or more, waiting for her to get big enough to wear them!  That's going to take up a lot of space.  It's not even going to be a short while, as I'm not planning on any more children yet, and if I decide to have one, I can't be sure it will be a girl.  That seems an awful big chance to save on.  Of the baby clothes, I'm keeping very limited stuff.  Anything I don't absolutely adore is going away.  I'm keeping all the little shirts, since it's hard to find shirts and not bodysuits for babies.  With the use of longies and shorties, shirts are far more practical.  I'm going to keep all of the hand knit stuff, since I adore it.  However, a lot of it really does need to go.  I'm not planning on another baby any time soon.  By then we should be in a better financial situation to buy new stuff, even if it means buying it second hand.  I'm keeping all of my older son's clothes, as that only makes sense.  In two or three years the littlest one will be growing into them, so it's not like I'll be holding them forever, and I know for certain there's another little boy to grow into them.

I'm even starting to go through all the old things I've been hanging on to for so long, like all of my old notebooks and journals.  I'm starting to sort through the projects I started and never finished.  I'm even looking to destash some of my yarn and fabric!  I know that's a shocking concept, and I may just have to destash by using it on things I can sell or use myself, but it's time I stopped holding on to things.  I can only drag it around with me for so much longer and it's starting to hold me back.  In the end, you can't take it with you, so what would be the point of holding on to it my whole life when someone else could actually use it to make something they love?

It feels good to downsize again, in a way, but at the same time, it's difficult.  It's hard to let go of things you've carried around for years.  It's hard to simply drop everything and move on.  It's also hard because it has that foreboding sense of moving again.  I can't entirely complain.  The situation we're moving into will be great to us.  We'll actually be paying rent and bills, so we're earning a good tenant history.  The place is inexpensive, so we're not paying as much as we could have to.  Our soon-to-be room mate is a wonderful person.  Finally, it will be closer to where I teach.  My partner is also winning out as he's being transferred at work to a place that will allow for more hours and a schedule he wants.  This is a wonderful, positive change for us.  It's also added incentive to get rid of all the extra baggage we've been carrying around.

As for the news on moving (if you didn't already know), it's just a stroke of bad news for the friends we're living with.  This is what happens when the economy takes a turn for the worse.  They're suffering through their own hard times.  We're parting in peace, and I really do hope they land on their feet.  I wish much the same for my own family.

For now, it's back to downsizing.  It's back to releasing the things that are holding me back.  It's time to start accepting that sometimes stuff is just stuff and all it does is get in the way.  By the time I'm done, it may feel sparse, like we have nothing, but at least we'll know the only stuff remaining is that which we'll truly enjoy.

Moving On, Moving Ahead

A lot has changed since I last updated this blog.  It may seem like I've fallen off the face of the earth.  In a way, I think I have.  There's been so much chaos, so many changes that it seems hard to keep track of everything all at once.  I'm lost in the flow of things.

The biggest change is a huge step back from sustainability.  We're no longer living in the country, but in suburbia.  We're still dealing with Texas's strange and complicated weather system, but hopefully it will mean for a good growing season when we're in a better position to have our own garden.  However, it's definitely limited our potential for sustainable gardening.  It's still possible, but we'll have to talk to our new house-mates about what the possibilities are.

However, this step back from sustainability is proving to be a step forward in another sustainable living aspect.  Though it's not allowing ourselves to become a little freer from the negative impact on our environment, it is allowing us to become more financially sustainable.  By living in our current home, we've got a wonderful opportunity to pull ourselves out of debt and start working towards a debt-free life!  We're even looking forward to the idea of eventually purchasing our own home some day, possibly in this same neighborhood.  We love it here, and it could very well be a good move for our future.

Another direction that has been positively impacted is the homeschooling front.  I've busted my daughter back to kindergarten work, so she's back to things that are much too easy for her.  However, we're going to be working through to find out where she's more challenged and where she's more adept.  This way I can start off the year more tailored to her own needs.  I know she's still got some problems with reading, but hopefully I can figure out if that's her only challenge, and we should be able to get her back on track.  Living with other children on a more regular schedule has made homeschooling so much less of a challenge.  I'm actually finding it fits in the schedule and our system is starting to work out quite well.  We still need to work out a lot of the kinks, but we're getting there.

It's so nice to live with someone who wants to work towards a clean home as well.  The past couple weeks have been pretty chaotic, but we're finally starting to settle in to what needs to happen.  I'm looking forward to a cleaner home, somewhere I can feel proud to have company over!

This whole thing has been a wonderful experience, even if it comes with it's sad steps back and unhappy moments.  We're now one big, mostly happy family and I'm finding I quite like it.  We're moving from one small community to a larger one.  It's always hard moving on from a situation, but I think in this case, even with the set backs, we're moving ahead.

Challenges in 2010

As of Monday this week, we are officially free and clear of our old home.  We've got everything packed up and chaotically fit like Tetris blocks in our living room.  Slowly things are being unpacked and put away.  We're starting to settle in and find our way in our new home.  We're trying to make this new, smaller apartment into a home instead of just a place where all our stuff happens to be.

Of course, moving always comes with it's challenges, but this new place comes with more than expected.  Some of the changes are good, some aren't.  For us, this will mean a lot of changes in our lives, both in an effort to work with the bad, and in a positive direction for all the good new features of this apartment.

To begin, we'll start with the good things.  The floors in this new apartment are carpeted.  This is wonderful as it helps retain the heat and prevents the cement slab floors from freezing our feet.  The place is far better insulated, so when it's cool, it stays that way longer.  When it's warm, it keeps the heat in.  There are very few windows for heat to escape from, and those are well seated and not drafty like our old home.  We're on the first floor, so we won't have the challenge of the sun beating down on the roof and causing the house to be brutally warm, though we do have some problems with the master bedroom in the mornings.  The ventilation system actually works, so we won't have the problems with trying to play with the temperature settings to keep the house tolerable in the bedrooms and living spaces at the same time.  The place is also significantly smaller, which means there's less space to heat.  Finally, right off our back patio is wilderness.  I saw a fox out there two nights ago.  Yesterday there were a pair of hawks hunting.  They flew by as close as perhaps twenty feet away!  One night last week we had a chance to meet one of our neighbors, a possum that was walking up and down the breezeway.  It feels good to be in touch with nature again and not so cut off from the environment as we used to be.

Unfortunately, this place has it's own issues.  The biggest problem I have right now is the lack of a recycling program.  I know that's easy enough to solve.  All I have to do is find the local recycling center and bring all our recycling down there, but it's so much effort!  I'll admit that I'm lazy.  Whoever lives above us is always banging about at five in the morning, keeping me awake.  There aren't many windows, so natural ventilation is difficult.  There is one window in each bedroom and the patio door in the living room.  This also means a lack of light.  Most of our windows are facing north, so that means very little light comes in, so electric lighting needs to be used in order to do just about anything in the kitchen, including homeschool activities.  Our northern facing patio is also going to be difficult to grow plants on.  Any kind of container garden I could have will need to be made of plants that grow well in the shade.  I also can't set up a drying rack in the sun so that clothing can be air dried.

A problem we had at our old place has been carried on to our new home, a lack of a washer and dryer.  While a part of this is just a convenience, it's also something that would make a huge difference here.  Having a washer and dryer would make cloth diapering so much easier, which means less disposable diapers ending up in landfills and otherwise destroying the planet.  I hope to save up to buy a nice, new Energy Star washer and dryer, since those have the least impact on the environment, probably less so than even the local laundromat.  Better still, gas would be saved in transporting the laundry!  That's something we need to work up to.

All in all, this apartment is a step in the right direction for us.  It will be easier to maintain.  It's required us to downsize the total amount of stuff we own.  Most of what we're getting rid of is going to donations of some sort, so we're not just throwing it away and leading to more excess waste.  We are taking steps to give our lives more structure and order.  This has really been a positive change for us.  Now we just need to cope with the challenges this new place brings.