We are moving house again. Our landlords gave us lots of time, graciously, but a place in a neighborhood I like  came up this month, and it seemed right to grab the chance. I want to stay as close as I can to Justine’s school so she can at least have that consistency for a few more years. We are moving about a ten minute drive north. I’m looking forward to living in a closer community and being able to walk to the cliffs to watch the sunset. Justine is looking forward to adopting a cat, which will be in perfect timing after dear Benson’s sudden demise. (Maybe he knew we’d be moving? I wouldn’t put anything past him.)

But it’s going to be a quick move. We can be in on the 21st of September, a little over a week.  Of course things are chaotic here, with boxes everywhere, but I think we’ve got a good pace down now. I’ve moved so many times in my life, but this is the first time since Vernon died. We got rid of most of his stuff (except the things we loved) in the past nearly-four years we’ve been in this house. But I’m still finding the odd things I never made decisions over…a book on Italian Design, cycling gear, football (soccer) jerseys. Not to mention my own box  of old journals and childhood artwork my parents had brought over from their garage at some point. A life packed in a garage. Amazing what we accumulate in a few years. I do like packing up because it reminds me of what I can live without….and reminds me of what I have.

.We learned to be a family of three in this sweet little house.  We became an official unit of our own. One of the best things about living here is that I was able to have a detached studio, which I took to complete advantage. I truly got into the discipline of painting everyday because I had a separate place to work. I made so main paintings…now what to do with all the ones I don’t like? Paint over them, I guess. Maki also expanded his musical talents in this house, he’s going to have to downsize some, unfortunately…but that’s ok, he’ll soon be driving and he can visit friends who have room for drums. 🙂

We have been so grateful for this cute little house, we’ve loved it. Incidentally, we moved to this street after Vernon was hit because the house had potential wheelchair access…not that he ever came home. But every day, we have to turn left on El Camino Real, pulling out from exactly the same stop sign that the people who hit Vernon did.. We don’t think about that corner as acutely as we used to, but the cloud, the awareness, is still there. I’m hoping a weight lifts from all of us with this move.  There is sudden momentum. The future is happening.

I feel like a reverse-hermit-crab…looking for a smaller shell, so I can go into the future more streamlined, less burdened than before. After all, I have two youngster hermit-crabs I’m bringing along.

(Getting rid of things feels good!)