One last time...

As I type this, I'm currently sitting in my studio apartment...one last time.

Even though I successfully moved into my new condo over the weekend, my apartment's lease isn't up until tomorrow. I spent the last several days cleaning and wiping down the unit and moving any remaining items.

Now it's just a plain, empty space. Just like when I got here a year ago. I guess I really did make it my own during that time, with all my plants and things.

Even though I had the terrible dust issue to deal with, I will miss this place. It kept me safe and was somewhere I could come home to after long workdays. And the view was just lovely (though the new place has a lovely view too!).

I'm grateful and thankful to have had it but am looking forward to growing into my new place (I fall in love with it more and more each day).

In honor of my one-year anniversary, here's some pics of my quaint but cozy studio I lived in for the past twelve months!

The main living room space.

I snuck plants into EVERY corner I could.

I sat at this table every day.

Interior of my retro kitchen cabinets (notice the turquoise metal).

 Wonder Woman always watched out for me!

Bathroom shot!

My small little hallway area leading into the main living space.

I'm going to miss the views from my window. A lot.

Did I mention my amazing view?

At least I'll have the memories to look back on.

The great news is my new place is colorful and interesting and better than what I had. Everything happens for a reason.

So...onto bigger and better things!

Not going anywhere!

I must be crazy. There's no other explanation.

I gave my two-weeks notice to the art-and-crafts store several months back, then said I'd stay for a couple months beyond that, and just recently I asked for an extension.

Even though my position has been filled, the store manger asked if I'd like to keep working just on Sundays doing the same tasks as usual.

Doesn't that defeat the whole point of me leaving though?

"Maybe you want this to be the next chapter in your life," the store manager debated, "and you want to be set free."

That sounds wonderful!!! I thought.

But I could tell he didn't want to lose me and that things would be a whole lot easier for him if I were there on the weekends to do the deposit, process rtv's (return to vendor), and finalize payroll.

He also kept my original pay rate intact, even though technically I was demoted (by giving up the position).

All that to keep me around. How could I say anything but yes?

And with my newly purchased condo, it just seemed wise to retain that extra bit of income a little while longer, until I get a sense of my new monthly expenses.

At least it'll be easy to leave at any time now that my replacements are there. It'd just be a matter of one of them absorbing that Sunday shift when I'm finally gone.

Why do I keep staying? Maybe because it's familiar to me and I've known my coworkers it seems like forever. That or the glitter keeps luring me back.

Today marks six years of me working at the crafts store and for the first time EVER, I actually feel good about that.

Happy Anniversary, arts-and-crafts store!!

Property Owner!!

After two months of signing, initialing, submitting payments, scanning financial records, and everything else I had to do, the time has finally arrived.

Today's the day my condo closes!

I dropped off the down payment and claimed my keys this morning.

I'm officially a property owner!!

My new keys!

What a journey. There were literally two or three steps I had to take every week for the past several weeks. A very exhausting, overwhelming, and frustrating process--but totally worth it in the end.

Thankfully my real estate agent was there every step of the way. His referrals (attorney, lender, insurance agent) helped me as well. They became part of my team, instructing me what to do week after week. I truly couldn't have done it without them.

Thanks to them, my monthly expenses will now go towards something I'll eventually own outright instead of paying a landlord.

A place I can be proud of and enjoy for years to come.

I feel very accomplished and excited and powerful in this moment.

Go, Dean, go!!

Lost love.

It's been over four weeks since we last spoke yet it feels like an eternity.

He flew out to Chicago for a surprise visit back in June but after that he told me he didn't want to pursue a long-distance relationship anymore. That it had become too painful to see each other, only to be separated afterwards.

I think he was being realistic. With him being from a Latin country, his chances of relocating here were next to none. I guess I was the hopeful one. I thought we'd find a way down the road.

Maybe I was naïve in thinking love would've been enough--that I would've been enough--to keep him around. Because if I were truly someone special, he wouldn't want to let me go. 

In any case, I have to give him the space and time he asked for. 

We ended things on a very caring and loving note and I'm certain we'll always be in each other's lives in some form or another. 

For now--to help me cope--I try to pretend the last several months were just a dream. 

Here's a piece of Mail Art I made for him just after his last visit. He has a very strong connection to nature and plants (like myself). Dried leaves from my collection were the inspiration for this piece.

Leaves on backing board - 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" (Assumed LOST) 

The address side (lined with origami paper)

Close-up glitter shot! 

He seemed to be having a hard time back home and I wanted to show my support overseas and send him some love. Literally. 

Last I heard, the Mail Art never arrived. Fitting, I think, and perhaps for the best. 

Some things just aren't meant to be. 

*sigh*

Thank you for everything, chapin. It was nice being loved...even if for a little while.