Living Unencumbered

Until this evening, I spent New Year’s Day in internet silence; and except for a run in the park, I stayed inside. I love inside. I love home. I love my stuff. So in honor of all those warm and materialistic feelings, here is a flashback to January 15, 2018:

It’s happening now. Now! The Container Store came through with a design. The parts have been delivered, and installation will be complete in an hour or so. I’m stoked, but my energy is useless. I’m sitting on the couch just staying out of the way until I can jump into my favorite pastime: organizing.

We came to New York with suitcases and had the luxury of living in a furnished apartment with all the essentials. For everything else, we were creative. I would vacuum the entire apartment with a dust buster. Instead of a ladle, we used a measuring cup, and who needs square baking sheets when your pizza can just hang off the edge of a rectangle baking sheet? I had forgotten ever having more than four sweaters or jewelry beyond pearl earrings. Finally, we made our official move of household and personal items over Christmas break.

On Christmas Eve, we packed and repacked our storage unit in South Carolina to pull only the things we could cram into a studio apartment without going crazy. After the tour d’family in Greenville, Knoxville, and Norris Lake, we rented a Penske truck (we’d recommend them!), and made the haul back to New York with Adam’s parents. Keith and Deborah were lovingly, patiently, and prayerfully by our side every step of the way.

The road trip was easy, free of complication, and damn near enjoyable. As Deborah would say, “Isn’t I-81 just beautiful!” The drive into the city was the same. We landed the ideal parking spot for our movers, and then they came early. The rental truck was returned, and all of our things were under roof by 6:00 pm. I attribute our logistical success in part to my superb planning, but mostly to Deborah and Keith’s presence who have a direct line to God. #PTL

It felt amazing, but it was also a disaster. With only a barely distinguishable pathway in between boxes from one end of the apartment  to the other, we slept in a hotel nearby and woke up to snow on Saturday. Perfect weather for unpacking. After trips and repeat trips to Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, and Goodwill, I was beginning to see light at then end of the tunnel, or just light in the apartment in general, as box after box was unpacked, and victory was declared after each piece of flattened cardboard.

Deborah tackled the kitchen, the boys put holes in walls, and I was focused on making sense of our closet. Twelve feet wide, there was only one rod and one shelf. ‘Twas an unfortunate waste of precious New York storage space. But then, I was nearly finished with it, when it decided it was finished with me. On New Year’s Eve, when everyone else was living it up, that one rod and one shelf became completely unhinged, and my closet fell.

This put a hard stop to all progress, and for the next two weeks, our things existed in piles lining the permitter of the apartment and covering all horizontal surfaces available. It was chaos, but what can you do? It took all of that time to get the appropriate approvals, design, and installation of a new closet.

This brings me to that glorious now moment. Now, my things have a place, and I will be able to see them. I am over the moon for double hanging rods, drawers, and shelfs. Getting dressed no longer has to feel like a chore. While I am aware these are first-world problems, I am also reminded of the power of organization to liberate the mind.

With a functioning closet, we will be able to tackle the other things, the fun things, the pretty things. But if I have a thing, it better be functional and/or meaningful. (Beautiful alone no longer makes the cut when existing in 500 square feet.) Between books, wedding photos, corals, and candles, I have surprised myself at how happy it has made me to nest, with Adam, for the first time. I feel like a more complete version of myself. Knowing that I have a happy space to call home, I feel free to brave the great outdoors, and most notably, I feel at rest.

So there’s that. Anaïs Nin said, “I write to taste life twice,” and at the turn of a new year, I think it’s especially appropriate to reflect on times gone by and aspirations for the future. One year later, I find myself loving the comfort of home and my petite space more than ever. Adam is away on travel, and while of course I miss him, the time alone is precious to my introverted soul. I feel grateful for this peaceful start to the New Year, and am hopeful for the opportunities that lie ahead, above and beyond this apartment. 

Happy 2019!