Well, 3 days, 10 boxes, 2 movers, and only one thing broken (just a picture frame), moving is over!  I’m unpacked, the old place is clean, the new people have already moved in (quick huh, i left at 7pm, they were in by 9!) and I’m officially exhausted.  Sheesh, moving is tough work and my whole body is exhausted.  But c’est la vie, it’s always worth it and it’s over….so until next time….

I don’t have many moving photos to show you (and they’re all pretty boring), but I’ll show you what I ate on moving day instead.  It was sort of fun because we took advantage of some of the new-ish good restaurants nearby.  It was actually a surprisingly delicious day!  And moving totally works up an appetite so that’s a good thing too.

Breakfast was the usual. A packed coffee maker was a good excuse to spend money on starbucks.  Eaten amongst boxes.

The movers came at 10am and were on time, and the rest went pretty smoothly.  I think they were a little unhappy to see all the flights of stairs though!

I get so nostalgic when I move.  No matter how long I’ve been in a place, how much I was ready to get the heck out of there, or how excited I am for my new spot….I can’t help but feel so connected to it and think about how much has happened there.

All weekend, flashbacks to my first days and week in the apartment kept flashing through my head.  I was so excited to pick out paint colors.  I loved staring out the window people watching.  I became good friends with my neighbor, so we’d share magazines and drop them off on each other’s doorway.  I had a crazy landlady for the first year (until the building was sold) and she would vaccumn the halls every Wednesday.  It would take her all day with the extension cords running along the hallways and over the stairwells….and if you happened to run into her on your way out the door or coming home, it would require a 45 minute conversation that was impossible to break free from.  I lived half a block from my favorite shopping street in the city with a dozen amazing restaurants, all my favorite wine bars, a starbucks plus 3 other coffee shops, a bookstore, bank, williams sonoma, a gap, and about everything else you can think of or want.  So lucky to be able to walk there in less than 10 seconds! (now it’ll be more like 25 minutes…haha, not a lot)

I usually end up living in an apartment for only about two years (crazy I know, but that’s typical SF…) but SO much happens in two years and where we live always plays such an important role in those times too.

I think that later, when I look back to the times I lived there– that chapter in my life– I’ll remember my runs down Chrissy Field, to the beach, and to the bridge.  Watching fireworks from my roof.  And how much I grew and changed for the better. And so much more.

—–

Lunch on Sunday was as soon as the movers left– it was 1:15 by then and we were STARVED.  Luckily, a new sandwich “dip” spot opened and omg, it is so good!

I got the chicken and pesto with peppers.  It was enormous! But really really good (better than it looks!)

—–Back to apt stuff—

But then  in the midst of my nostalgia, I also remember the not good things.  The apt was freaking LOUD from buses and people yelling late at night.  There wasn’t a dishwasher.  I didn’t have internet or cable (i know!! but rent was too darn expensive).  My rent kept going up and it was ridiculous.  Parking was pretty impossible in that area and there were times I had to circle for 25 minutes before I found one.  And frankly, the nearby shopping street one block away is awesome, but I was sick of it.

But on Sunday, as the movers took everything away, I felt really thankful and really grateful.  This apartment gave me everything I wanted and hoped for when I first moved in 2.2 years ago.

I went back late in the afternoon to finish cleaning and return the keys.  Then, I took one last look at the empty apartment, said a silent thank you, and left feeling SO EXCITED to open a new chapter. I shut the door one last time……and left to go eat dinner, because by that time it was late, I was hungry again!!

We ate at a new rotisserie place also down the street.  We’ve been wanting to go for a while now.  They specialize in rotisserie chicken and homemade soft-serve.

I was craving something green by then though, so I ordered a salad.  It was pretty boring and un-stellar.  All the people who ordered the rotisserie and sides looked really happy though, and Jared like his meal, so I think I’d like it if I stay away from their salads next time.

Michael Phelps, our dinner date.

The olympics were on tv at the restaurant, so that was another plus.  When we got home, I unpacked one more boxes and passed out COLD on the couch while watching the Olympics.  Umm, I am obsessed– I couldn’t watch much last week, but now I can’t STOP watching!  These athletes are all amazing.

Okay, enough of that.  On to you!

– How long do you average in an apt/house?   
– Do you rent or own?  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to own, but this is one of the most expensive place in the country and you literally have to spend $1million to get even a 3 bdrm in a not-so-great area and I have’t saved nearly enough yet….
– When’s the last time you moved?
– Do you get nostalgic moving too?