Changin' Ain't Easy

It's tough getting back into the swing of things in city life, and I don't adjust to change well. 

For the last ten months, my boyfriend and I lived in a very small town. There were fewer than 1000 people, and the closest WalMart was a forty minute drive. This was especially though in the winter when the roads got bad. It was about a mile north of Iowa in Minnesota. Completely flat and instead of trees, we had wind mills. By the end of the school year, I was ready to lose my mind.

However, we have moved to a much bigger city further north. We live in an apartment building again. Down south we lived in a large house that we rented because the closest thing to an apartment building was assisted living. Granted, we only paid $450 for the entire house. It was big and it had a garage and a deck and a yard. We paid utilities, too, and the heat was extraordinary in the winter. I think our bill was around $300 every month. Here, our rent is only $500 with a garage, but our apartment is small. I cut down on all of my "packrat" stuff, so the apartment doesn't seem small. It seems like the perfect size.

When picking an apartment, my mother has always told me never to live on the middle floor. Always go for the top. We've lived in basement apartments that had mold. On the top, you don't get the noise from above. Only from below. Our apartment is on the second floor. I love it. I wasn't sure I would, but I do. I like the sound of our ceiling creaking when the people upstairs are walking. I think it's because I hate being alone. I even love the sounds of people doing the laundry right next door. I don't even mind the people in the parking lot that our deck and patio door look out on.

It's so difficult to get back into the city life. There are trains going by. And planes. And cop cars. I can't believe how many sirens we hear. The first week we lived here, I think we had to run to the store for something every darn day. We're on week two and have sort of settled into it, but it's so nice to be able to run out and get something if necessary. I also like being able to compare grocery ads. There are so many things to do that I can hardly believe it.

I am a little more on edge here, though. I don't think I've adjusted quite yet. The drop of a hat sets me off because my nerves are so jangled. I can't quite explain it. I know my boyfriend is getting annoyed and is completely perplexed by it. I think I just need to get settled a little more.

But I am definitely a city girl. I think.