Shipped off to Boston

I still have my morning alarm set to Dropkick Murphy's Shipping off to Boston, which to tell you the truth has gotten a little old - but it was exciting during the process of moving to be sure.

I have been living in Boston 2 weeks and 2 days exactly. The move went more smoothly than it had any right to in most of the important ways. The truck never broke down, nor was it decapitated (thank you, Reddit), we spent a night in my home town, where I had not been for 3 years and I had no idea how much I needed that. The trip through the east side of NY and into MA was beautiful, and we hit almost no traffic. When we arrived at our apartment there was a truck WITH ramp sized parking spot less than 4 meters from the front door, and our hired movers (Bellhop Movers, check 'em out y'all) were fantastic, stayed way past their booked time, and were careful and never complained. We had friends bring us pizza and beer and I was able to set the bed up to allow us the ability to sleep in comfort that first night. There was walking and exploring and unpacking that happened over the next few days, and then a sad goodbye as Nick left to return to Chicago. Interesting fact: it was his very first solo flight, and he survived quite well.

I haven't lived by myself in almost 4 years exactly and though I lived alone for 5 years prior to that, there have been some challenges upon reentry. Living alone is a test of your ability to tell your imagination to shut the ever-living hell up because the creaking sounds in the apartment are NOT a murderer. Our building was built in the 1920s - it creaks more than not. At this time I have an estimated amount of 5 serial killers, 2 murderers, and 12 boogeymen living with me. They show no signs of attack yet, but my imagination tells me that they like to pace the floors at night just to fuck with me.

I'm learning about commuting for work and have become a successful navigator of Boston's T system. Despite that proficiency I am currently still in the midst of the Great Grocery Hunt of 2015. Finding what amounts to a 'typical' grocery store to me that isn't all organic or a million dollars a trip is proving to be somewhat of a challenge. I have sunk to the level of asking random strangers unloading grocery bags from their cars where they shopped. Not having a car is making this very difficult, but we shall prevail! I have a bike!

Speaking of bikes, I have found my current nemesis and it is the bike room in the basement of my building. I am terrified of it. Petrified, panic-stricken, scared stiff. It is dark, smells like the sewer, and if you thought I had a large amount of imaginary criminals living in my apartment, their lair is that cave in which I am supposed to store my two-wheeled means of transportation. I have yet to visit it alone. Again, we shall prevail, but it may require a friend's hand to hold. Any volunteers?

My two weeks at work have been exciting, engaging, and educational. I have learned so much and it just feels like drops in the proverbial bucket compared to what I don't know. The most important thing I have learned out of all of the tidbits I could share is that my new institution makes me happy. I enjoy the people that I am working with and thus far feel quite supported. This work is going to be challenging, but that is a good thing in my eyes. I like working hard, and I like to think that the work that I put in is meaningful. I have that feeling, and have had it right from the start. I know I already like it there, and I think there is potential for me to feel quite at home in this new office and role. It's been two weeks - we'll check in a couple of months from now.

I am struggling a little health-wise which has presented some challenges, but I think much of it is due to the lock down mode that I was operating under for about 2 and a half weeks leading up to the move and during the beginnings of the transition. My migraines have been out of control and I've had a few flare ups of the chronic condition that I have. Despite all of this, I'm settling in well.

My plan for this weekend is to get some boxes unpacked, and then go visit some friends in New Hampshire on Monday on my day off of work. The apartment needs a lot of work - other than the kitchen which Nick did a fantastic job on before he left. I told my supervisor facetiously this week that my life was, "in shambles" and she very accurately responded, "no, not shambles. Your life is in boxes."

A little bit at time we are working to change that, and working to make this home. Nick will make his move in a little over a month, and that process can really take off. Home has always been a conceptual idea to me rather than one definitive place. It is where I feel accepted, where I feel understood, where I find my people, where I feel happy. There is an apartment on State St, a pair of people in Naperville, an Indian Reservation in NY, where ever my twin is to be found, a village in Nepal, a street in Berlin, a place on the Cape, a house in Florida - all definitions of home. Hopefully soon this new city can earn a place amongst those hallowed ranks. I'm so excited for the adventure.