Settling In

I can't believe the Christmas season is here. I have my silver tinsel tree up in the corner of my tiny little living room.  It's topped with a very cute sock monkey ornament that my Dad surprised me with last week. 

Today marks the first week of living in my apartment. One area of my living room looks like a abandoned Occupy camp with all its boxes and flotsam I have yet to unpack.

Overall it's been really nice and the apartment is coming together. I have been so focused on moving that I have done next to zero shopping for Christmas. I plan on braving the insanity this afternoon when I get off from work.
Also, I've decided, with all of two weeks to Christmas, to knit some gifts.  I still haven't picked out yarn or patterns, and I a million things going on work wise, but I am determined to knit for two family members. This could equal total and complete disaster...

Moving...again

This past week I finally moved into my apartment, raising the grand total of moves I've made in the past three years to five. 

Five times.

This is especially mindblowing considering I lived in the same house for almost 18 years before my parents bought the big ass house (the official term for our new family home).  I moved to California, back to home, and now to my own place.

It was an intense move.  Moving of course is always intense but this one was overwhelming at times.  I've lived away from home, lived on campus when I was in college, but I've never really lived alone.  The fact that from now on it's just me hit me like a semi.

In some ways it's incredibly exciting to have this complete fresh start in my life, in others it's so heartbreaking I feel like I can't breathe.

I've never been in the position where I have nobody but myself to answer to.  I feel very free and in control of my life.