On Resigning the Lease

When I first met my now boyfriend, we lived a 30 – 40 minute bus ride apart. Within a few months, we’d both moved and that bus ride was replaced with two trains and a walk—a two hour door to door trip. 

Fortunately, we were both working fully remote which allowed us to spend extended time at each other’s homes. Unfortunately, this took a lot of mental energy. Did I pack my work computer and my running clothes? Did I bring my personal computer to work on Smile? Oh I need to be formal from the waist up for that call on Wednesday. 

And yet for two years, we made the most of the trek. I spent my long train rides listening to podcasts or reading books. I savored the walk along the water that led to his front door. Then, this time last year, we found an apartment in the middle and prepared for the next journey. 

Moving is not for the faint of heart. 

I remember feeling confident in my decision to splurge on movers, totally forgetting that I still had to pack the dang things! I am grateful for the friends and family who would sit on the phone with me for hours as I bubble wrapped tea mugs and wall art. 

Upon moving in together, life instantly simplified. Suddenly, my running shoes and personal computer and all the blouses to make me look formal from the waist up were in one place. Suddenly, I was meal prepping for an entire week knowing that I’d be in one home that length of time. Our home.

After six months of living together, I wrote a piece for this blog—To bear witness to the person I love each day has been a gift. 

Now, we have a whole year behind us. A year of grocery shopping and evening walks. A year of Jeopardy! and co-existing. A year of inviting our friends and family to come by for a cup of tea… or to stay for the weekend. A year of creating a space that feels true to us.

What makes a house a home? How do you turn an empty space into something real? 

You breathe it to life. You invite in the memories. You carve out the joy. 

I’m grateful for a year of life, of memories, of joy. I’m grateful for signing our names together again.