After waiting over 6 months and living surrounded by boxes of books, photo stuff, odds and ends, and clothes I have finally moved to my new flat. What relief! I had lived (gratefully, mind you) in the previous apartment for so long and grown so accustomed to being crammed into an old building in need of serious repair that this new space really twists my head around. My light fixtures do not need re-wiring, the plumbing doesn’t smell of bacterial rot and shutters are not decaying and falling off of their hinges. These were everyday living conditions before last week. I also have almost twice the amount of room as well as an apothiki (‘warehouse’), so that much of what I had lived with before can now be tucked away–boxes of negatives, portfolios, seasonal clothes, extra stuff…all of this is now out of sight and out of my living area. And I feel no need to fill up the new and open spaces with stuff. I am enjoying the freedom of movement. I have an IKEA order coming, but it is not so much and only replaces some of what my current landlord has supplied. I want to put my own touch on things so I have purchased a new dining room table, some rugs, an easy chair and footstool, some lamps, a clock. I also bought some traditional taverna chairs down the street and stained them a yellow tone. As they dried I realized they turned a bright yellow ochre. It made me think that maybe I should have used the tetrachromy for my design. Just an idea. Next time maybe.
The move has also affected my dreams. Maybe it is because my bed now faces due north (it faced south for almost 3 years), but my dreams all week have been vivid, complex and memorable. Sometimes even a bit disturbing. I am not complaining, just keeping notes.
I think my overwhelming feelings are ‘Finally!’ and also ‘What now?’ This applies to my physical as well as emotional states. So many endings, so many beginnings, so many new spaces and ideas. There is plenty of room for all of this thinking and action. I’ll post some photos once the IKEA goods have arrived and are assembled. My current landlord walked into the flat the other day and exclaimed “So much light!” I’ll try to keep it that way.
4 new chairs
–JDCM
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