Getting Settled

Getting Settled

We've been in our house for 11 days now. I think we're about 80% or more unpacked. Most of the living space in the house is almost box free. A 110-year-old house doesn't have as much storage as a more modern house so finding a place for everything is a challenge. The kitchen in particular has much less storage than our Seattle kitchen.

We're collecting stuff for a garage sale. We wanted to have one in Seattle, but we ran out of energy after getting the house ready for sale. The company was moving everything at no cost to us, so we figured just move it all and we'd sort it out on this end.

I haven't ridden my bike to work yet. I have a neighbor who reportedly commutes by bike occasionally and I was hoping he'd escort me and show me the route, but we haven't connected yet. I'm itching to get back on my bike, though, so I'm going to have to figure it out on my own. Navigating roads around here is very confusing so I know it'll take me a long time the first time. Streets change names often and many signs are missing. Even with a GPS in the car we take wrong turns.

I've been taking the train and T (the subway) to work. It takes a little longer than I had hoped from looking at schedules in Seattle. About 1:05 each way. I'm experimenting with different options and shaving some minutes off.

The girls are adjusting well to the new home. Although Charlotte once in a while says "I want to go to a normal house." Tonight when I got home from work (and she was disappointed because Audrey didn't want to play the same game as her), Charlotte told me she wanted to go back to Seattle because "this house is boring." In general they are enjoying exploring new places. We have found the public library and the public pool (it's free!) and a playground pretty near home.

Audrey and Charlotte have become fish. Audrey has made amazing progress all on her own. She'll now jump off the side of the pool and go completely underwater, then surface and swim back to the side. She'll swim on her back and float on her back, too. She'll even swim underwater for a short distance. Her dog paddle is getting really good. Neither girl can get enough of the pool. Even after a couple of hours they are both loathe to get out. Charlotte is slowly getting accustomed to the cooler outdoor pool.

Audrey is registered for Kindergarten. She's in half-day at the moment because there is no room in all-day. At least she is in the school that is two blocks from our house. We have our fingers crossed that an all-day spot opens up. We're not yet sure what we'll do for school for Charlotte. There is a pre-school that is part of the public school system that we'll probably check into.

Carol is enjoying the adventure of learning her way around a new place. She's sampled several grocery stores and has found the other local stores she needs for the moment. We had the movers stop at Carol's parents' house in the Tri-Cities and pick up a piano. Carol's most anticipated box to find was the one containing all of her sheet music. Carol studied piano for 12 years and plays very well. She's playing right now as I type this. I love having music in the house! Hopefully we can inspire the girls. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never learned an instrument (even though I've tried many times as an adult).

We already have a long list of projects to do on the house but we'll pace ourselves. Half the house is wallpapered and that has to go. Several rooms need new paint colors. And the kitchen may get a moderate remodel (new cabinets and rearranged appliances) sooner than we thought. That can all wait until we are completely unpacked and have had some summer fun in New England.