OK, time to let the truth out of the bag (the truth being a cat is my new headcanon). The reason everything over here has ground more or less to a halt is, I just bought a house! This has been in the offing for a long time - a quick look at notes on hand shows we’ve been working on this for a minimum of two years. But I really think it’s been longer than that, since the documents I can access in Drive aren’t from the start of my search.
Anyway, I am equal parts terrified and over the moon. It’s going to cost more in the short run; but it will allow me to get rid of several familial storage lockers, and that alone will make up most of the difference (adult kiddo is supposed to be pitching in as well). The best part, of all the many Best Parts, is I WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A REAL STUDIO SPACE AGAIN. There’s a semi-finished basement that will allow space for that, a laundry area, and - dare I hope it? - even a little tiki lounge down the road. Insert ineffable angel choir here! There’s also a garage, and attic storage.
And the attic - which is really just the second floor, because Bungalow - has a finished room and a central, finish-able space that will be elder daughter’s suite. This means if I want to come home and flop on the couch and watch my shows or read a book, I won’t be six feet away from her watching HER shows, playing video games, or chatting with friends. In fact if I’m working downstairs, we might be two whole floors away from each other; what bliss! (Don’t get me wrong. I love my kiddos. I’m just someone who needs Personal Space on the reg, which we just don’t really have with our current living arrangement).
Will I be sad to leave Gordon Square? Yeah, some. I’ve lived in that neighborhood for over fifteen years. I’ve watched stores come and go, events spring up, and rents creep ever skyward. Sure, there’s lots of amenities within walking distance; but I don’t ever use hardly any of them. Gypsy Beans is no longer open evenings, which would be the only time I could go (this seems to have become the new norm for coffeehouses and I am not happy about it). Sure, it’s nice to walk to the movies and not worry about parking; but I go to the movies there maybe once a year. I’m more the arthouse sort, and sadly, the Capitol did not become Cedar Lee West as I’d initially hoped.
And on the flip, traffic is every day more a nightmare, especially if there’s an Event (I’m looking at you, today, Dyngus Day). Parking after 5pm is a challenge. I’m lucky to have the driveway spot by default where we are, but I share that with my downstairs neighbor, who works nights. Meaning swapping is never ideal for either of us. Now, I can pull in, turn the car around on the back parking pad and be pointed nose out for the morning (more angelic choir). I CAN PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE DURING BAD WEATHER. I can keep my bike in the garage, instead of having to carry it up from the basement and back down after any time I want to ride. Camping gear, too. I’ll have space to do some woodworking projects - I’ve got classic maple 50s armchairs badly in need of refinishing - heck, I can even try my hand at building a teardrop foam camper if I want! And have a place to keep it!!
Oh and I almost forgot - there’s kind of a double back yard on the place. There’s a small yard right behind the house, then a larger one that spans the width of the lot that runs behind the garage. Hello place to put a pool when it gets warm! Hello already existing brick grill / fire pit! We will be enjoying you muchly in the months to come!
But this will also make keeping up with the online shop So. Much. Simpler. No running to the locker, frantically trying to figure out where I stored an item that just sold. No cursing because I know I have packing materials, Somewhere. The basement has two - two! - little storerooms off it, and I absolutely plan to use one to store and organize shop items. Just imagine - a shelf for glassware. A shelf for kitsch. A shelf for tropicalia. A dedicated shipping station. A dedicated staging area for photos. I am positively giddy at all this place has to offer us, and I really hope it will help me take the next step in developing Dakini Trading into the shop I know it can be.
But first, of course, we have to pack up ten years of living in one small apartment. We don’t have much prep to do at the new place, rip out old carpeting, fix a leaky bathroom sink; kiddo wants to finish the attic ASAP but isn’t fully cognizant how cheap a job that isn’t. If it gets done by next summer, I’ll be content even if she won’t. At least the ceiling is insulated; ages old and in need of replacement, but enough to keep it decently warm in this weather and hopefully cool in summer (did I mention central air? We’ll have central air. And a cooling bill to match, no doubt).
So that means there will still be precious little activity in the DTC realm for a while yet. I had to cancel my WV trip - breaks my heart, because I love those people and love the event; but we’ll be in the thick of moving by then. I hope. I’m really aiming to be out of the current place by June, which may be overly optimistic, I don’t know. I’m packing already, and have taken our first car load over, but there is just a metric eff-ton to move. We’ve got art, we’ve got tchotchkes, I’ve got art supplies and records and books (So. Many. Books - and that’s just the ones I managed not to lose in previous moves). Kitchen supplies - did I mention the second kitchen in the basement? Yeah. We’ll be able to do cookie baking again! I’m gonna try to run at least a few things over evenings after work, and of course weekends will have to be dedicated to packing and schlepping as well (so don’t invite me anywhere, I can’t go).
I should be back either at the end of April or early May, though, with an update on how things are going. I did manage to finish up a couple new sticker/shirt designs yesterday that I’ve had hanging fire since just before this ball got rolling. After post-work errands tonight, I’ll see if I can get them up on the website; if not today, then shortly (oh and Etsy too!). I had wanted to post a couple Easter-related items in the shop, but best laid plans and all that. At least I’ve got photos and a handle on where I can find them when they are ready to make their debut.
So until next time, ducks, I leave you in perfect love and faerie dust, and the knowledge that nothing lasts forever*.
*(yes this is a fandom reference; my current blorbos are keeping me from losing my gourd over taking such a big step, blessed be their names. Even the irredeemable one).
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