The move
So I’m in the process of moving. The new place is awesome. I have a side-by-side comparison that I’m working up in photos and words for you guys. I’ll probably post that tomorrow. But let me just say, it’s totally worth the extra half c-note a month. It’s not perfect, and there are things about the other place that were better, but all things considered, this is a fantastic place.
The move, however, sucked. The new place is 1.5 miles from the old place. I, having no vehicle, had to carry all my stuff, 3 trips. I have the least amount of stuff I’ve had since I was 3 months old and it was the hardest move I’ve ever had. And I’ve moved a lot. Every year, sometimes twice, from the time I was in forth grade until I entered graduate school at the age of 33. This by far was the most strenuous, weather extreme, process I’ve endured. Right now my whole body is aching and I have a slight fever and I’m exhausted. So here’s how it went down. I got all situated with the office attendant, got my new key and such like that, and went and packed. I borrowed a hand truck for my books, 70+lbs of words I didn’t want to have to carry, and the rest was going on my back, in a blue Ikea bag or in a suitcase. I figured I could get it in three trips easy.
Trip one (3 miles total, there and back.)
I over estimated my strength, which is mighty and told of in myths. But today, the Ikea bag full of dishes, the backpack with all my cloths and the suitcase with various items proved a heavy burden. Plus it was almost 80. When I made it the new place I was drenched in sweat, my hand was numb where the stupid blue Ikea straps cut off the circulation and the my legs were burning from the hills and stairs. As I was coming up the last bit it started raining. Just a little. Now in all those times I’ve moved in all the years I’ve been nomadic it has rained every time. Without exception. If you want to know if it’s going to rain, find out if I’m moving that day. I have always found this amusing. And although it was sunny all morning and hot when I started, today was no exception.
Trip two (3 miles, there and back.)
This was the trip with the books. Two boxes of thesis material, plus the stuff I’ve picked up since I’ve been in country, I was glad to have the hand truck. This and another load in the backpack made for a heavy burden, but nothing like trip one. I was watching the sky the whole way, telling it to wait, just a little bit. On the way back from the first trip I could hear distant thunder. What I wanted to avoid most of all was pushing my books through a thunderstorm. Praise be, I delivered my books dry and safe to the new digs and headed back for the cleaning and the final load. Moments after stepping from the new building it began to rain. Huge, apocalyptic size drops. But they were spread out and you could walk around them. This began to pick up as I crossed the Akerselva and began the trek back. It increased in frequency and size and the thunder returned and I figured I’d get wet. Then it left off, and then it started again. Stupid flies began attacking my ears (I don’t really understand this. It’s happened a lot and I don’t know what they find so attractive about my ears.) And then the rains came. Torrential. And cold. I was immediately soaked through and shivering because I had packed my coat and it was back at the new place. By the time I returned the hand truck to the reception I was wet. I went to the old place, took off the shirt, rung it out and hung it to dry some while I cleaned. The rain increases. It was perhaps the hardest rain I have seen. And I still had one more trip to make. I was not looking forward to it. But when the place was almost clean the rain suddenly let up and so I made my escape. I have to go back and finish up the cleaning, sweep and mop, and take care of some other business tomorrow.
Trip three (1.5 miles, there and done.)
It drizzled all the way. And I was wearing a shirt soaked through. I had my bag with my computer and some books, my suitcase and a bag of food. It should have been fine, but I was getting tired. I’d already carried my stuff 6 miles. It was slow going, but eventually I made it. Everything was fine. I got here, took a shower, unpacked, set everything up and that’s that.
I went for a walk in this neighborhood. It’s everything I hoped and completely different then the last place. Right now, out the window, I can hear kids playing in a park. The streets were lively. I the grocery was earthy and pleasant. There is a bakery and a bunch of cafes and it’s going to be great. I’ll show you more tomorrow.
The move, however, sucked. The new place is 1.5 miles from the old place. I, having no vehicle, had to carry all my stuff, 3 trips. I have the least amount of stuff I’ve had since I was 3 months old and it was the hardest move I’ve ever had. And I’ve moved a lot. Every year, sometimes twice, from the time I was in forth grade until I entered graduate school at the age of 33. This by far was the most strenuous, weather extreme, process I’ve endured. Right now my whole body is aching and I have a slight fever and I’m exhausted. So here’s how it went down. I got all situated with the office attendant, got my new key and such like that, and went and packed. I borrowed a hand truck for my books, 70+lbs of words I didn’t want to have to carry, and the rest was going on my back, in a blue Ikea bag or in a suitcase. I figured I could get it in three trips easy.
Trip one (3 miles total, there and back.)
I over estimated my strength, which is mighty and told of in myths. But today, the Ikea bag full of dishes, the backpack with all my cloths and the suitcase with various items proved a heavy burden. Plus it was almost 80. When I made it the new place I was drenched in sweat, my hand was numb where the stupid blue Ikea straps cut off the circulation and the my legs were burning from the hills and stairs. As I was coming up the last bit it started raining. Just a little. Now in all those times I’ve moved in all the years I’ve been nomadic it has rained every time. Without exception. If you want to know if it’s going to rain, find out if I’m moving that day. I have always found this amusing. And although it was sunny all morning and hot when I started, today was no exception.
Trip two (3 miles, there and back.)
This was the trip with the books. Two boxes of thesis material, plus the stuff I’ve picked up since I’ve been in country, I was glad to have the hand truck. This and another load in the backpack made for a heavy burden, but nothing like trip one. I was watching the sky the whole way, telling it to wait, just a little bit. On the way back from the first trip I could hear distant thunder. What I wanted to avoid most of all was pushing my books through a thunderstorm. Praise be, I delivered my books dry and safe to the new digs and headed back for the cleaning and the final load. Moments after stepping from the new building it began to rain. Huge, apocalyptic size drops. But they were spread out and you could walk around them. This began to pick up as I crossed the Akerselva and began the trek back. It increased in frequency and size and the thunder returned and I figured I’d get wet. Then it left off, and then it started again. Stupid flies began attacking my ears (I don’t really understand this. It’s happened a lot and I don’t know what they find so attractive about my ears.) And then the rains came. Torrential. And cold. I was immediately soaked through and shivering because I had packed my coat and it was back at the new place. By the time I returned the hand truck to the reception I was wet. I went to the old place, took off the shirt, rung it out and hung it to dry some while I cleaned. The rain increases. It was perhaps the hardest rain I have seen. And I still had one more trip to make. I was not looking forward to it. But when the place was almost clean the rain suddenly let up and so I made my escape. I have to go back and finish up the cleaning, sweep and mop, and take care of some other business tomorrow.
Trip three (1.5 miles, there and done.)
It drizzled all the way. And I was wearing a shirt soaked through. I had my bag with my computer and some books, my suitcase and a bag of food. It should have been fine, but I was getting tired. I’d already carried my stuff 6 miles. It was slow going, but eventually I made it. Everything was fine. I got here, took a shower, unpacked, set everything up and that’s that.
I went for a walk in this neighborhood. It’s everything I hoped and completely different then the last place. Right now, out the window, I can hear kids playing in a park. The streets were lively. I the grocery was earthy and pleasant. There is a bakery and a bunch of cafes and it’s going to be great. I’ll show you more tomorrow.
posted by jeffrey ottem at 8:33 PM
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