a chapter

i've been living in my current apartment for almost four years.
since leaving home at 17 (for a year abroad followed by 4 years
in various dorm rooms plus another stint abroad), it's the longest
i've lived in one place.  despite it's complete inability to hold heat,
it's been home for four years.  and it's full of stuff from four years.

everything i need is close and convenient and i know where it is.
the conbini, grocery store, post office, laundromat, station...
and i have a friend who lives just a 20 minute bike ride away.
i've settled into my routine and all the shop clerks "know" me.

it's near ueno and the park and there's hanami in the spring.
weekends in may mean mikoshi parading through the street
and there's asakusa; sensoji and the nakamise touristy shops and
quaint back alleys perfect for evening strolls in the summer.
(Ro and i took one of our first pictures together in nakamise)
every july asagao matsuri brings the "summer is here" feeling.
the leaves along my street turn a beautiful gold in the late fall
before littering the sidewalks in winter.  and i've loved it all.

i've been watching them build sky tree
since it started,
but i won't be here to see it finished.

it's not without some sadness that i
announce:  i am moving.

of course this day was coming,
but now it's becoming a reality.
the end of living on my own...
a reality with a date. 

i'm definitely excited but of course nervous.
headphones for music and making sure we
each get our "own" time and space will be key.
yep, Ro and i are moving in together.<3

we found a great apartment in yokohama.
it's a spacious 2ldk with a big living area,
lots of closets, storage space in the bathroom,
balconies on two sides of the apartment,
a bedroom that can handle a queen bed,
and an "office" room we can split.
i will finally have a craft [half] room!

it'll mean a shorter commute for me and a bit longer for Ro,
but it's a pretty a fair split, and only 4 minutes to the station.

i don't think i've fully grasped how much needs to get done.
gaijin card registration update, insurance address change,
probably a million other address changes.  the bank and work.
turning off gas, water, electric, and internet.
then having gas, water, electric and internet turned on.
(though i'm pretty sure Ro is already on the internet)
it's pretty overwhelming.  so i've been spending my days
packing up my life in cardboard boxes.




oh and, my etsy shop name has "from tokyo" in it,
but soon i will be a kanagawa resident...
hopefully no one sues me for fraud.  ha!