forever home

I've noticed that life in this city is really strange just in terms of space and privacy. I grew up, like the majority of normal people, in a home with my family. We had bedrooms, where we kept our beds, clothes, personal stuff; we had a bathroom where we kept toiletries, towels, etc.; and we had a kitchen where all of the food, utensils, dishes, and pots & pans belonged. College life took some adjusting. Suddenly I had to keep all of my things in my bedroom space, not just clothing and sheets, but food, shampoo, makeup, utensils, towels, and sometimes toilet paper if my roommate was stupid and didn't buy any for a long time. It seems like a small thing, the places we keep our things, but it was a jarring shift in spatial perspective for me. It's almost like living out of a suitcase to KEEP a minimal level of everything you need in one place, and then transport those things back and forth to the proper place to USE them. But this is obviously normal for dorm life. It's a part of the college experience. But once a person graduates college, I feel like most people endeavor to rebuild the home that they had before. Animal shelters have the term "forever home" for adoptive parents of pets, and it's strangely fitting. Not that we're dogs, but New Yorkers are not like most people apparently. I've lived in 2 apartments, which were slightly more "home-ish" than my freshman dorm, but I still kept my towel hanging from a hook behind my room door. I didn't leave it in the bathroom because my roommates might use it. I kept random crap stored in my closet, like a stockpile of soap and other toiletries, and a little tv, a shelf of books, and a handcart were all stored in the same room as my bed. I've grown used to it over the past 4 years, and I guess it's actually pretty normal for people to continue to live this way for a few years after college. But New York City is the land of roommates and awkward housing situations. My roommates currently are almost 30, and they still keep their entire lives stored inside of their closet-sized rooms. It's a lot better of course, since we're all reasonable adults, but there's still this sense that we are 3 separate people who are only sharing the space because we have to. Everything in the apt that is shared belongs to one person, and there's an unspoken understanding that when one of us leaves, the rest of us will be left sans-microwave/lamp/bookshelf/tv/etc. We also have things that were purchased together, and there's a silent understanding that if we all parted ways we would have no idea what to do with them. Maybe draw straws. Maybe have a throw down. Generally speaking, it's really not so bad. I'm not constantly thinking of it as analytically as I'm presenting it here. But if I don't think about it, then it becomes normal, and I don't really see it as a stage that I need to grow out of. I could potentially, if I allowed it, live this way forever. And I think I was on track to do so, until last week... when I found HIM:
Isn't he amazing?! He's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and he's currently waiting for me at the Pets Alive animal shelter. And so it came about within the span of a few hours that I don't just want to move, but I am going to move. I have to, so that I can have him. I went apartment hunting on Saturday, and found an affordable one bedroom. It's 2 blocks away from my apartment now, so it doesn't seem like much of a move, but... it is. I'll have my own space. My toiletries will be in the same room as my toilet. My pots & pans will all be MY pots and pans, and I can make BANCHAN to store in MY refrigerator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It honestly makes me giddy every time I think about it. That poor, beautiful puppy up there was used as training bait by his evil previous owners. Pets Alive rescued him recently from New Orleans, and he came to the shelter with scars all over him. It's definitely time for him to get to his forever home, and in my attempt to find one for him, I've come to realize how badly I need one too. So a new phase begins in my life. If I don't get this apartment (knock on wood) I'll keep looking. This is something I need, and I'm going to do it even if it seems impulsive. That's how I do most things anyway. Just LOOK at him. Such a gorgeous face, begging you to take him home and love him. Don't worry, buddy, I'm coming for you! And then we can start life in our forever home together <3


** UPDATE ** MOVING INTO THE APARTMENT MARCH 1!!!!