Escape from suburbia
Well it's been a week since my last post...so much for the promise of writing more often. I have, however, been extremely busy this last week. Packing and getting ready to move have occupied the majority of my time, and I spent the entire day today actually moving things over to the new apartment.
The new apartment is like a breath of fresh air. It is in a four-plex in a very old building (built around 1910). It has hardwood floors throughout, lots of built-ins (shelves, bookcase, etc.) and a wonderful balcony that looks out on downtown Portland. The historic feel of the place is very visceral; it is certainly a place that will inspire my writing craft. It is also a symbol to me. It marks the end of my long-planned escape from suburbia.
Not that I have anything against the suburbs. If you like them, good for you. But I grew up in the suburbs and have always longed to move to the city, into a place just like the one I will soon be occupying. The little inconveniences of living in such an old building present themselves like challenges for my creativity, opportunities to craft an individual living space that reflects our personalities. There's no counter space in the kitchen (where to put the microwave?), hardly any electrical outlets throughout the apartment. The closets are miniscule by today's standards. And yet, the rooms have a quiet elegance that speaks of a simpler, more picturesque time. They are challenging us to simplify our lives, to choose beauty over function.
Just some late night musings from someone who has been lugging boxes up stairs all day...
The new apartment is like a breath of fresh air. It is in a four-plex in a very old building (built around 1910). It has hardwood floors throughout, lots of built-ins (shelves, bookcase, etc.) and a wonderful balcony that looks out on downtown Portland. The historic feel of the place is very visceral; it is certainly a place that will inspire my writing craft. It is also a symbol to me. It marks the end of my long-planned escape from suburbia.
Not that I have anything against the suburbs. If you like them, good for you. But I grew up in the suburbs and have always longed to move to the city, into a place just like the one I will soon be occupying. The little inconveniences of living in such an old building present themselves like challenges for my creativity, opportunities to craft an individual living space that reflects our personalities. There's no counter space in the kitchen (where to put the microwave?), hardly any electrical outlets throughout the apartment. The closets are miniscule by today's standards. And yet, the rooms have a quiet elegance that speaks of a simpler, more picturesque time. They are challenging us to simplify our lives, to choose beauty over function.
Just some late night musings from someone who has been lugging boxes up stairs all day...