I have been in my apartment for 3 weeks now. It is comfortable and getting familiar. I can get around it in the middle of the night, when I need the bathroom, without turning on any lights.
Mostly, I sit at my desk for 8 or so hours a day, and look out the window over my monitor.
This is my work-space, my home-office
I have created some rhythms with my Sonos, by scheduling music, and radio programs to trigger at certain times a day. I have very quiet ambient start at 6:00 a.m., not quite loud enough to wake me, like a slow sunrise to prepare my body for waking up. It is far more gentle than hitting snooze over and over, and it works for me. Throughout the day a variety of radio programs, and music setlists are triggered automatically, until Soundcheck on WNYC closes out my day at 9:00 each evening.
I haven’t created set days for grocery shopping and such yet, or going out, but I do need to move the motorcycle a couple days a week, for “opposite side parking”. My first couple months on the East Coast were filled with a flurry of activity, going out. eating out, parties, events, workshops, anything to get me out and away from my computer in the evening. I was trying not to wallow in misery for all that I had lost, for everything I left behind, I was keeping my mind active and full. I’ve avoided giving myself time to grieve for what has been lost. The biggest, of course, is my marriage, of 20 years, but also the home I lived in for nearly a decade, and while I still “have” a relationship with “R”, and in the past few years it was not meeting the standards that it had years ago, not living with her is a loss. Also, lost our dog Max, after nearly 15 years, and being far away from the kids, it is a lot to process.
A few weeks ago, I was doing very well, because I was busy, and simply avoiding processing it all, last night I stayed home, I didn’t watch any TV (no, not even streaming), and I read a book, and listened to music. I am trying to get back into the habit of writing. My “Haiku Year” has taken a big hit, but I’m working toward keeping it going. I’ve purchased a handful of items for the kitchen, and have cooked a few 1-pot-meals, tonight it was chicken with lemon and olives, the left-overs will be good for lunch tomorrow.
How am I doing now? I’m not sure that “really well” is 100% right, but I’m making some friends that I can hang out with, and I’m taking time to be in touch with my feelings and emotions around all of this. Generally, I feel that the changes in my life are positive, I feel good about what is happening at work (90% QA this afternoon) , and I’m looking forward to seeing the leaves turn color here in New York.
I’ll try not to “be such a stranger” here on the blog.
What a soul-baring yet positive outlook you have on life. Change is always tough, I don’t know if it’s tougher to move to a new place, or stay where you were. But you’re keeping enough planned to get through that horrible ‘period of adjustment’ that’s always so hard and appears when you least expect it. Keep it up, you have people here sending out well wishes to you!
And congrats on the QA score! I know a good one really makes my day. 🙂
-Rhonda
YAY! Rhonda, thanks for the kind remarks! My second really great QA in a row (last one was 100%) . I’m trying to be positive, and events around me have left it fairly easy to do, we’ll see what the cold weather and snow bring.
Yes! Please do keep up on the blog. Voyeuristic minds want to know, etc etc.