So a few weeks ago I was browsing available apartments and found a few
that I liked. I applied for the heck of it; usually you have to apply
several times before actually getting one, because of the queue system
that is in effect here. Hence I was really surprised when I actually got
the second one I applied for. It was also a very nice apartment in an
older building closer to the central parts of town. When I was showed it,
I found out that it was also newly renovated. Newly painted walls, new
floors, new bathroom, everything. I almost couldn't believe it! This
poses several challenges though. I've lived in my current apartment for
twelve years now, and it is quite a lot larger than the new one. This
means that I have to get rid of a lot of stuff that I've accumulated over
the years. This is never easy for me, and especially not now when I only
get roughly half the living-space. It's been a struggle, but I think it's
for the best too.
There is also the matter of overlapping rent. The new apartment was
available almost instantly, while I have a three month notice on the old
one. This means that I'll have overlapping rent for at least two months.
Probably three, depending on how the company owning the old building
handles things.
I also recently got the darkroom up and running in a closet in the old
apartment. Needless to say, I have no such space in the new apartment, so
I'll have to start looking at renting a place somewhere for that. In a
way, that is also good, since I'll have the chance of finding a place that
can also act as a small studio in that process. But meanwhile, I'll have
to put all those things in storage, which is a bit sad.
I've decided to move over to the new apartment during this weekend, and I
have gotten a few friends to help me. I've also decided to either trow
away or donate most of my old furniture, depending on the condition it is
in, and get mostly new stuff for the new apartment. I haven't bought
furniture new since I moved away from home, so I think it is time to spend
some money on that and get stuff that I actually want, rather than what is
convenient and available. A new, larger bed for example, and a sofa that
isn't from the 70s. Not that there is anything wrong with that in and of
itself, it has served me well.
I'll try to make some updates here on the progress, but it will probably
be a while before I have either the time, or the internet access. I'm
nervous about this, but at the same time, I think this can be really good
when It's actually done and over with!
During the weekend I had an old friend as a guest. We spent most of the
time doing things in the nice weather. Nice for the season that is. It
has been pretty warm for this time of year, and we took advantage of that
fact and went out in the woods for a whole day, carrying a small amount of
firewood and my Trangia. We explored a part of the mountains north of my
home-town that I have never really visited before. We had a really good
time, and had some very good conversations and laughed a lot. He is
studying in a university in a southern city, and he is very tired of it at
the moment, but he is also beginning to see the light at the end of the
tunnel now, because this is his last year. He is thinking about moving
back to this region after he is finished with school, and I think that is
a good idea.
