Staying busy with everything that has come along with the new house, I have not had that 'moment' yet. You know... the moment that the feeling sinks in that this is now home. So far, this whole experience has been surreal. I've always worked for people that have houses like this, so I've just felt like an interloper. The guy who is just here temporarily to paint the house, rewire the garage lights, and mow the lawn. Well, I AM that guy, but I'm going to be sticking around for a while; doing all those things and more for a long time to come. I wasn't overwhelmed with that comforting feeling that this is 'home' until two recent events.
Event number one came at the end of a long day; full of running errands, making phone calls, doing laundry, and moving some crap from the old house to the new one. After eating some leftovers for dinner, I was disappointed that I had not been here for sunset. Sitting at the end of the dock with a nice rum drink at sunset is one of my favorite things to do.
Figuring it was better late than never, I decided to head out to the dock anyway. Although it was about 10pm, I made my standard rum and orange juice and headed out to the river. As I sat there, sipping my rum, looking at the stars, and contemplating the phenomenon of nature being concurrently silent and deafening... it hit me: Wow! I live here and get to experience this regularly. Awesome!
Event number two came the following morning and was the simplest of things, but was extremely powerful. My second favorite thing to do at the new place is to have coffee in the morning out on the dock; hopefully watching sunrise. I woke up, got out of bed, and made my pot of coffee as I always do. As I was digging through one of the boxes I had moved the day before, I pulled out my two favorite coffee cups and began washing them.
Then, standing there at the sink... looking out into the front yard and watching the flag and palm fronds sway in the breeze, I became awash in emotion. I am now here with my favorite coffee cups; participating in my usual ritual. Standing there with water dripping off my cup and beginning to run out of my eyes, I realized: Wow! This is definitely 'Home' now.
I only wish Adrianne was here to share the feeling with me. Ahh... she would still be asleep, anyway.
The old house has not yet sold and we are not completely settled into the new place, but none of that matters. I finally feel like this is home and I do not have to pack up and leave when the work is done. Who are we kidding... the work is NEVER going to be done! I thought it would take many more months to no longer feel like a stranger in my own house, but all it took was the simplest of things to drive the point home. A coffee cup.
Pay attention to the little things. They are usually important.
