I'm happy to report that I'm settling into an actual home of my own for the first time in quite a while. It's funny because it still feels like I'm in an Airbnb! 

Though much is new, some things are still the same, like life in the hammock, looking up at trees and sky.

![hammock.JPG](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmcxUPs9AdStaDckGx42bxSn2t5gCS4VwswnDWx3tWUw83)

Because my movers either stole or left so much of my stuff, I wound up having to buy a lot that I had intended to just bring. I'm grateful for the comfort of some familiar things though. Like my complete office, now bigger and with better light. 

![office.JPG](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmNsELofde9hTuTLQRqL4iVANH8z6LkgJY3R3dM2hEpnDV)

I need a small filing cabinet for the paperwork you see in the box under the window and for the printer on the floor to go on top of, but other than that, this room is pretty much done. I still have boxes in the living room and haven't unpacked most clothing, but other than that I'm pretty much moved in. 

In a couple weeks it will probably start feeling like "home." Maybe once I have family over for dinner. I'm so grateful they are all only a 10-25 minute drive away now.

One of my nieces and one of my nephews (and their friends) have been incredibly helpful! They've helped me move stuff into the house the movers left in the garage and also assemble new furniture that's arrived that's too heavy for me to do anything with. (I'm pretty sure that even just the top of my new dining table weighs more than I do!) It's awesome to have family I can call upon for help with things. I've actually never had that before, since I left home at 15. 


## The Neighborhood

<br>This is a very quiet, friendly neighborhood, which is the kind I like best. Lots of trees and sidewalks, even in the absence of stores right here. I can walk to a supermarket or Target in just 10 minutes, but right here it's just well maintained homes. After living in Taos, where there are barely even paved roads, let alone sidewalks that aren't in front of stores, this is like nirvana.

Here is some honeysuckle I passed walking the dog.

![honeysuckle.JPG](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmQ73HpY2aQcF3JzJydEjg5AUfoKMRpe4jvKU5nUhANSan)

Can you imagine the smell of that?

It's quite lovely. As is living in a house with air conditioning! This is actually the first time in my life I've lived in a place with AC. Most of my adult life I've been in the San Francisco area, where it's so cool in the Summer that you don't need AC. Before that I just couldn't afford the places that had AC, and really it was much more rare back then. 

Now so many young people are coming up who don't necessarily come from families with money, but they've never lived without AC simply because it's so pervasive now. Not great for the ozone, but very good for surviving the hot, humid NC Summers, and even just now in Spring. I keep mine set to 78 F though, because I still haven't adjusted to the idea of actually paying for it. Heat isn't life threatening at 75 degrees F, though you'd think it is by the way some people set their AC way down around 70! Brrrr!

Well this is just a quick update to say "I've arrived." There's still a lot of loose ends I'm tying up with the move and other stuff from Taos, but mostly I'm transitioning into living this new life here now. Once things come to full completion on the move I'll create a post just about that nightmare, to hopefully spare you or anyone you know going through the same ordeal. 

I hope you're having a great week and enjoying your Spring (Northern hemisphere) or Fall (Southern). May your days be sweet and your nights restful.