The New Abode

Inevitably, moving into a new house is always followed by a string of little discoveries: you become acquainted with all the little idiosyncrasies of your new home. Yes, a house is rather like a person.
First impressions count when it comes to houses (as they do with people), but it takes time to discover the little things that you either like or dislike about your new residence. The creaks of certain doors, your neighbors´bad taste in music, the lack of light in certain rooms, bad water-pressure (a pet-peeve), closet-doors that don´t open easily....

But, there is much to love about this place. It is neither luxurious nor notably spacious, but I had a feeling that it would prove very livable. And it has.This is why:

*Closet-space: this place boasts so much storage-space! we´ve accumulated so much stuff throughout the years, that the space-issue was a not only a plus, but a prerequisite. it has helped us get organized.
*Windows: (possibly related to the fact that I come from a country of houses with big windows) I love windows. The living-room has a wall of windows, and I could not be more delighted. It stormed the other night, and I just sat there....on the couch, looking at the grey and restless sky.

*Book-wall: the living-room has a wall of built-in shelving. Perfect for book-hoarders. My boxes of books will arrive several weeks from now, and I am thrilled to have the shelf-space to display them.
*Balcony: this is directly related to the space-thing. We have an enclosed balcony, not wide (or sunny) enough for plants, and not suitable as a hang-out place, but it is just what I needed to manage the laundry. My laundry-rack sits there, out of our way, dry when necessary, and in the fresh air when the weather permits (all I have to do is open 1 or 2 windows). Moreover, it, too, has a closet for miscellany. It serves as a laundry-room, shed, and pantry.

*The fourth bedroom, now an office/music-room. We thought of using this open room (connected to our living-room) as a dining-room, but decided it had more potential. Daniel convinced me that it could be put to better use, and it now holds his music-collection. Once our wooden chest, black chair, and woolly brown checkered rug arrive from Holland, this room will be well on its way to becoming the coziest nook on this side of the Atlantic.
I´ve lived in many houses. There have been prettier ones, two (one in SC, the other just down the street) with splendid terrace/porch-spaces.... However, I have never before been quite so happy with how I´ve been able to organize my belongings. Shelves, drawers, etc. Everything in its right place. We´ve had to be creative, but it works wonderfully. (i.e. one of our 2 bath-tubs now hides our 3 laundry-hampers. the hampers sit in the tub, and all I have to do is open the tub´s sliding doors, and voila!, there are the 3 color-coordinated hampers. Out of sight. By the way, it took me about 2 hours of scrubbing and complaining to discover that, 1, it would not work as a bath (FILTHY!), and, thus, 2, it needed an alternative function. Who needs 2 bathtubs, anyway???). How is that for looking on the bright side?

And then there´s the neighborhood. I already knew I loved it when I moved here several years ago. But now, having returned here, I see just how excellent it is.

* little shops: there are dozens of little shops within walking-distance. Dozens. Meat-shops, flower-shops, the movie-rental place, travel-agency, peluquerias, bars, coffee-shops, banks, book-stores, "chinos", bakeries, shoe-menders, fish/vegetable-shops, pharmacies, electronics, et cetera.

and, could it get any better?:
* I can walk from my apartment-building to each and every one of these places without getting rained on or scorched by the sun, when necessary. My building connects to the other 20-some buildings in the neighborhood through covered walk-ways. We can sit at a table outside a bar, have a coffee or two, and Ari can run around in sight. It is ideal for people with kids and strollers.

En fin. There is plenty to do before it will feel "just right", and it´s not the house of our dreams, but we are quite at ease here.