Thursday, May 13, 2010

All Roads Lead to Home Sweet Home



If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. --Lewis Carroll

Even if you know where you're going, I would argue, any road will take you there. Some roads are circuitous, some are more scenic, some roads provide ample opportunities for creative tangents, others are fairly straight and narrow, but all roads, if followed, will take us through space/time which is the point of life in this form, yes?

Of course we're all headed to the same destination, after all, or maybe I should say we're all going to end up the same way. You know what I'm talking about, right?

But in the meantime ...

In the meantime I am surprised every day by the twists and turns of this long and winding road of life. It appears that, after nine years here on Tennessee Avenue, I'm going to move house. It's an exciting development. The details are not yet nailed down, so I don't want to jinx it by saying too much yet, but wow.

A year ago I didn't know if I would ever move out. My housemates and I are well used to each other's quirks. We are so tolerant of each other, you wouldn't believe it. My thinking a year ago was centered around the idea of: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Nevertheless, at some point during the third blizzard last winter, I had a revelation that opened my mind to a different perspective. I began to wonder whether perhaps it was time to gather my wits about me and shake things up. Then my birthday came and went, bringing with it a consciousness of the passing of time. It was a shocking birthday for me. Fifty-seven? REALLY? After several weeks of careful rumination, I talked to my housemates about moving. Though every one of us is kind of freaked out by the idea, we're all in agreement that it's right and proper. Everything has a life span, everything.

When I started looking at possible places, I became confused all over again. You would not believe what some people think is an acceptable space to rent. Whoa. I'll say no more about it except that as a result of looking at all those awful spaces, I began to wonder if I'd been wrong about the timing of my move. But then things turned again and an apartment suddenly became available, a sweet, sweet space with everything I need. The right vibes and the right light. Wow.

I'm still pondering the concept of carpe diem, of happily ever after, as those ideas apply to making myself at home in the here and now, and what that has to do with the actual physical place where I live.

This process is not unlike walking the labyrinth. In fact, it's exactly like walking the labyrinth, navigating the hairpin turns, following the twisting, meandering path. All I have to do is put one foot in front of the other. I can do that. Oh yeah.

24 comments:

Expat From Hell said...

I hear there are some apartments available in Male (Maldives). Carpe diem, my good friend! EFH

Reya Mellicker said...

I believe I've found the right apartment. Right light, right vibes.

Just after I decided it might be time, the next door neighbors on BOTH sides began renovating. So there has been hammering hammering hammering, from the left and the right.

I pay attention to signs like that!

Reya Mellicker said...

In fact, they are hammering right now.

Nancy said...

Very interesting. Goes right along with my post yesterday. I think being flexible is important. Being able to move from roommates to living alone is healthy. You can always go back to roommates, but knowing you are okay by yourself is a gift you give yourself. After all, you can always have your friends and family to your home, but you get to be in control of when, how much, etc. Keep us updated on this important event in your life, Reya!

ellen abbott said...

Must be in the air. Another blogger I read is about to make a big move also. And another just has and I can think of several others as well that are getting ready to. And I myself, well, one of the things about my blog when I started was all about the impending move to the country house, away from everything I had known, from my kids and grandkids, a year of transition. I'm happy about my move. We love it out here. But it was a drawn out process full of letting go and opening up.

So Reya will be living alone?

Reya Mellicker said...

Yes I'll be living alone for the first time in a long time. I lived alone in San Francisco for about a year and a half and before that I lived alone several times during the decade of my 20's.

I am most curious about how GREAT it will be to be completely in control of my kitchen. MINE, ALL MINE. I really get why chefs are such divas. Oh yeah!

Anonymous said...

Dear Queen Reya,

So glad you have found a wonderful space.
Isn't it odd how one just 'knows' these sorts of things about places?
So thrilled for you. and, yes, there are time limits on places and relationships
and all kinds of things.
Moving is very thrilling
tinged with little twinges of tristesse.
I think a kitchen of your own sounds quite the thing!

Keep your eager audience posted.
Hugs

Still got jet-lag
England was cool!

NanU said...

Wow, that is a change. It's so exciting to move into a new space! And one only for you. Happy packing!

Rosaria Williams said...

Time to shake things up! You must be ripe for it; go on, it's a new experience.

Reya Mellicker said...

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm just now beginning to dig through the bookshelves and closet, starting to figure out what I don't want to bring with me. It's always a fascinating experience.

Elizabeth: Moving is very thrilling
tinged with little twinges of tristesse.


All I can is Wow. Oh yeah. Twinges of tristesse. Yeah.

Susan Carpenter Sims said...

I was just yesterday contemplating the words on a collage I made a while back that now hangs in my living room: "The open road leads home."

And it's also interesting that you have a Lewis Carroll quote, as I attended an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party yesterday and dressed as the Red Queen. Then last night, I happened to come across an excerpt of Alice's conversation with the queen about "six impossible things before breakfast."

So much synchronicity - I love it!

Blessings on your move.

Cyndy said...

As someone who has recently moved, I highly recommend it! I'm glad you found a good place.

Tess Kincaid said...

Speaking of the labyrinth, I never really thought much about the Polish guy looking vaguely like me, until you pointed it out, Reya. (okay, I hope my nose doesn't droop quite that much) So, why was I so drawn to him? Now I'm really wondering how he fits into the whole labyrinth of me. Hmm. DNA?

Linda Sue said...

Oh Reya- exciting! I love to move- I think that I am nomad at heart- I love the challenges of taking it apart and putting it back together in a new way- Exciting, creative, stimulating! I hope that you feel this way too- Jazzed!

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The Bug said...

When I was in Zambia I lived alone for the only time in my life. Wow - hadn't really considered that before. I always had my parents & roomates & now Dr. M for 19 1/2 years. That was a brief period - just a few months - but boy I LOVED it! Loved it.

Well, now I need to stop remembering that time because I might be tempted to kick Dr. M to the curb (not!).

Ronda Laveen said...

In the politics of "you," this is a wonderful move. I'm sure you will love it. Great time to announce and contemplate your move...on the new moon of Taurus.

Bee said...

Exciting! I love moving house, stressful though it can be. It's so much to have a good clean-up and clear-out and to start afresh.

(By the way, have you ever really described your roommates here? Or do they wish to preserve their anonymity?)

The website about the labyrinth was interesting, too.

Reya Mellicker said...

Ronda! That is cool. My timing is good. Yeah!!

Bee my housemates are quite private, but I think I will find a moment in which to write a post about them without being too specific, sometime before I move.

Tom said...

how exciting...but packing is such a chore. best of luck!

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Natalie said...

I think that sounds Fabby!
A whole kitchen to yourself? Yippee!

Steve Reed said...

Wow, how exciting! That's a big step! I can't wait to hear how things go! You won't be moving to Takoma Park, will you? :)

Reya Mellicker said...

Steve - nope. I'll be just a few blocks closer to the Capitol. Yay!!