Room to Breathe

UPDATE: My Uncle Jim is doing better. I'm so happy to hear that as I've been literally sick with worry. Today, he'll have the wire to his pacemaker replaced, an easy procedure as Dana explained. The stroke effected his left side and it's his right hip that's in such bad shape so it's not going to be an easy road. He's swallowing and moving around better, but he'll still need rehab. The hip surgery will have to be postponed six months. The good news is that his cognitive skills seem to be in place.

 

I've been a bit blue this week. I really miss our dog. As much of a pain in the ass as Digby is, she's our dog. I miss her furry little head. I miss her playfulness. I miss her gobbling up all the food my toddlers drop. Maisie constantly talks about her. Even Hudson asks on occasion, "Where's Digby?" They both stop to see every dog they see and there are a lot here. It breaks my heart.

I expected to miss Digby, my family, my friends. I didn't expect to miss my stuff so much.

I read that Matt Lauer once said that a messy space makes him physically ill. I'm a little bit like that myself. Perhaps even more so, my surroundings really screw with my mood. If the lights aren't right or the colors are off or the art is crooked, I start to sweat. Well, maybe not sweat, but I definitely get uncomfortable. It's not like I'm a great decorator, but I like what I like. My surroundings really affect my mood.

Truth is, apples don't fall far from trees. I'm pretty sure if I was in school today, I'd test off the charts with sensory issues - even more so than Maisie. Heck, if the sheets aren't right, I've been known to remake the bed in the middle of the night. Tom sleeps right through it now. Is he a great guy or what?

I miss my pillowtop mattress, lamps instead of overhead lights, rugs. I even miss the kids' toys. It's not that I don't like where we're staying - it's lovely - but it's just not my home. It's hard to feel settled when we're as unsettled as they come. Connecticut is on the market. New York is half-packed up - either to move here or to move there when our lease is up in February.

We're getting closer to needing to make a decision about staying. Lots will go into this: Is it good for Tom's job? Can Maisie get the kind of therapy she needs? Can I make a life for myself here?

One equally big question is can we find a home that suits us? We have a LOT of stuff. Granted, we can and will put a lot in storage, but I want to bring my Christmas decorations, Maisie's this, Hudson's that. Can we even afford the kind of property we're hankering to have? Not to mention, there is a lot of great stuff here to buy!

Today, I saw two VERY nice apartments. The first was kind of by accident. A playgroup we've joined was to be held at a park in an area called Bukit Timah. This was my first trip to this neighborhood which is about 20 minutes northwest of our present place by taxi (or as Hudson says "tacky"). I liked it there and almost felt a sigh of relief. It's not that far from town. There's a shopping area, parks, trees and a subway station. 

Of course, who wouldn't like the apartment I saw! It was NICE! HUGE! The apartment is on the 9th floor with treetop views and the city skyline on the horizon. I only saw it because it started to pour so we punted and raced over to Colleen's apartment. Her daughter turned 2 in July so we had a little party for her. It's a bit odd to join a playgroup that's been ongoing. They all know each other's histories. Even so, they were super kind and inclusive, giving me the poop on schools, neighborhoods, the works.

This place was massive. Colleen and her husband actually bought the condo and redid it. The kitchen even has an island. There's an actual dining room. I mean - it is a massive apartment. It's older so the walls are thicker so there is no such thing as neighbors whining about loud kids. Amenities aren't as nice in the older buildings, but there's still a pool and the like. As in our current unit, the air con (as they call air conditioning here) is done by these units that are hung on the wall. Some are quite noisy, but theirs were quiet. The place is lovely - and probably can't afford it despite it being more distant from the central city area. Even if we could, I suspect we'd need a car if we lived in Bukit Timah which is pretty much impossible for us here as cars are SO expensive! 

Afterwards, my friend Penny let me and the kids stop by to see her place which is literally a 4 minute walk from us now. They JUST moved here so they aren't as settled as Colleen who has been here 7 years.

Penny lives on the 27th floor of a brand, spanking new highrise near Orchard. It'd be like living on Park Avenue in the 60s. It's also huge, but has a totally different layout and central air. The kitchen is quite small and is a part of the main living space. There is a square hallway that connects the four bedrooms. The hallway serves as the playroom. Each kid has a bedroom and there is a guest room. The master is large enough to also have an office area. The balcony wraps around the entire apartment. Hudson loved it - I was terrified for him :-) The views are outstanding! The best part? We got to meet their 9-month-old son, James :-)

There's also a fancy, dancy pool, gym, playground and the like. Wow!

Again, we can't afford this. Penny is here on an IBM expat package. Most folks we know have these massive packages that include a huge amount for rent, private school tuition and the like. We won't have that if we come. Sigh.

Stilll, it's nice to see the different areas and what money can buy here. Tomorrow, I head out with a realtor! 

Comments

[Harriet]

I hope your realtor does not replace me! I love reading all about your adventure. Where is Digby???