With a shaky hand

I signed a years lease. After 4 years of traveling and living short term and sharing places when back in San Diego I decided I needed a base, at least for awhile. I wanted my STUFF out of storage. To see it and use it or get rid of it. But I found the idea easier than the actual doing. Signing the legal document made me a little weak. I did try to talk the agent into a 6 month lease but it was a no go. What if I had making a big mistake? What if there were travel deals coming up I just could not pass up? What if I hated the place in a couple of months time? Oh god - all these what-ifs.
  I had pulled into San Diego at 6 AM, had coffee and was looking at apartments and condos by 9AM. It continued like that for almost a week. Calling and looking all day and then lining more up for the next day. I swear the prices got more expensive and the square footage got smaller. I actually had looked at the place that I am in now but it was early on and I remembered that the bedroom was very small but I noted that it had a yard and lots of closets. Now discouraged I was ready to go into an efficiency in Little Italy until I could find what I wanted but before I did I came back for a second look. And guess what! It looked huge compared to the shrinking places I had been viewing. My memory of the bedroom was off. It is small but for a small one bedroom duplex it has tons of storage. It has new carpet and paint. Its cute and big enough for me. So... with the weekend free I went to ArtWalk in Little Italy meeting friends I haven't seen in almost 7 months. Numerous artists had their creations on exhibit, along with musicians and lots of food booths. Sunday I just enjoyed the day. I walked and picked up a few things at Target for my new place. I was picking up the keys on Monday.
Tuesday I emptied out the storage unit. I really do not have that much. Years ago I chose traveling over having possessions. But there are lots of boxes. Boxes of books(my weakness) my art supplies and art books. It would have been easier on my friends to just have a few pieces of furniture. Jeez. It took half the day to load those boxes into the truck and then unload them into the house. My two dear sweet friends volunteered to help me. All I kept telling them before hand was that it was only a 10X10 unit. There were only some boxes and a love seat and chair. There turned out to be a lot more ands, mostly boxes and a cadenza and art tables and,and, and it was piled up to the ceiling.
The unpacking and sorting and rediscovering began in earnest Wed. Thinking back I would sign that lease without blinking an eye after all the work it took to sort it and put it away and donate the rest. In fact if I had to do it over I don't think I would blink an eye over a 5 year lease! I was house bound for 3 weeks except to go to the store and go out on Saturday night. But it is done and it looks great. I have even gotten creative with the yard. Next time I will post some pictures of it and tell you about the newest trip I have planned for Sept. Yup a trip already. Hey you only live once!

                                                San Diego Skyline and Embarcadero