Moving in – Moving out and all that Jazz
My American Adventure has comprised of A LOT of moving.. A
LOT. I moved here in 2006.
We already had a wonderful Townhouse in Sandton, Gauteng
Johannesburg. It was perfect and beautiful. We had just furnished it with
expensive furniture from Bakos Bros. etc.
Then Craig’s company got an offer to transfer us to the USA
for 1 year. We were excited. And we would rent out our place to make sure the bills were paid. It was supposed to be a one year gig like I had always wanted. And
here I am 9 years later! (no complaints!)
I have had 12 Home addresses since then. I am now in number 13 and this one is
“permanent”!
The first one was a Hotel in Charlotte North Carolina. It
was the Good old “Townplace Suites” - It was nice for a minute with everyday
maid service. But living in a hotel is hardly what I would call “home”. But it was only 8 months. I was so bored in those 8 months, I flew home twice! I went to alot of movies and ate alot of Pretzels.. The rest of that saga you can read in this blog (scroll back to 2006, it is ALL documented :)!)
Moving on from Charlotte, I had to have my contact lenses
shipped to the Magnolia Hotel in Denver, we had to stay there because our
apartment was not yet available. 7 weeks, free cookies in the Hotel at 4pm and
the concierge knew my name.
My first “permanent” address was on Larimer Street. OMG what
a view of the snowcapped mountains. We started out on the 9
th floor.
It was fully furnished and everything was paid for. It was an easy, pleasant
walk to everywhere. As we visited other
expats in the building which fondly became known as the “international towers”
– we became a little dissatisfied with our little abode and put in a request
for a more modern apartment.
Because so many expats do 6 month contracts there
were always apartments becoming available. We seemed to be the stickers! Moore was always getting renewed contracts. Also, we seemed the only ones other than a couple single dudes, who were happy to stay in the USA. Most of the Aussies and the Kiwis couldn't wait to leave.
We then moved "up" to the 12
th floor. Ahhh more modern, even better view
and I acquired a couple of cute turtles.
Atleast at this point, I had acquired no possessions outside
of clothes. And A LOT of it. But since all my expenses were paid for, I would
just donate a lot of them and fill the new wardrobe with more stuff. I had so many pairs of shoes, stilettos nogal, and I would trapes my way up and down 16th street! I was famous.
When Moore had to leave for a long period of time and we heard
rumors of another move (one rumor was Minnesota! YUK) I decided I rather wanted to stay in Denver, since I had a job by this
time, which I loved, I had made a ton of friends and I was Happy Houring everyday! This was my Collegiate experience, so to speak. So, instead, I rented an apartment in Uptown Denver, an
old ghetto looking place. I had that address for a year and never lived in it!! As the rumors came and went, I waited and waited.
When Craig finally decided to move to Phoenix, I finally moved out of
Larimer Street and into a modern place in Uptown Square, it was nice except for
all the College parties happening all the time.
I bought a full condo of furniture and Little T died, which was super
sad. But I still had Big T who was my faithful travel companion.
That was very short lived as I decided a few months later to also move to Phoenix. During this transition period and finishing things up at work, I stayed with my friend Scott for a little while which was
another temporary address, and Big T and I did our last Denver partying in that
apartment before U-Hauling ourselves to Phoenix. Truck full of clothes and furniture.
I arrived at the one bedroom apartment in Heatherbrae Street in the middle of the Phoenix
summer – it was HOT. This apartment in the not so great part of
Phoenix. There were all kinds of shadiness going on and I was less than impressed. Moore had made himself at home in this apartment full of furniture that I
swear, he found in a side alley. I actually think it was donated to him by a homeless man! Also, we had
double of everything!
Nevermind that, it was ok for a few months. We then moved
into our dream palatial estate condo – Optima.
It was the perfect most magnificent address. That is where my movie career budded and I
got into the best shape of my life! That lasted about 2 years and then when
Moore had to take jobs in California, it wasn’t worth living there alone and
paying the palatial rent. He didn't get to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was home and it was amazing.
When he returned to Phoenix, funds were a little low, so we moved to
Camelback and 24th street. Also a lovely condo, in the midst of all
the hip and happenings. Loved that place with the rooftop pool. Had it painted and everything, and after
suffering from my worst physical ailments, it was time to move.
I moved by myself to Parkside drive. That
was in the College town of Tempe. Needless to say, though the constant college
boy advances annoyed the heck out of me, it was nice to feel like IF I wanted to, I could like
so like totally fit in!
Oh and did I mention we STILL had the house in South Africa.
But after being awarded Green cards it was time to sell. We always thought we
might go back voluntarily or be shipped back. I fought hard to stay and it was
a success. I aged about 5 years in that process I am convinced.
Well Youth or Greencard.. cant have both
By this time, Big T had tripled in size and I had to get him
a huge tank which was a bitch to clean!
At the end of my lease, I got a huge increase, a promotion
and upgraded my “stuff". I also bought myself a very nice Audi brand new and
quit the movie business. I lived 6 minutes from the office. It was a sweet
deal. I would wake up 15 minutes before I had to be at the office. My work schedule was crazy, but I was loving it. The life of independence. In this address, I learned to become independent. I learned how to do everything that was previously done for me - I even used a **wait for it**DRILL! I feel like this is where I found myself again, or anew. And learned to love me again.
AND, That was when I fell in love again. Second time in a life. Who would have thought it was possible?
I then moved to Weber drive, can’t get away from the College
kids. I had a ground floor unit and it was ultra-modern. Well worth the
overpriced rent at the time. Had a gorgeous fireplace. I was the quintessential Single Young female doing her thang! Just having a great
time with my life. I had this amazing huge stainless fridge that perpetually
only had an onion and maybe some juice in it!
I went out A LOT partying it up, traveling the world and so
in this gorgeous apartment fully loaded with new furniture and a second bedroom
JUST for my clothes and 169 pairs of panties, it was purely to sleep in and receive mail. :)
After things progressed with Robert and I, we realized that
living so far apart was crazy, I started looking for houses, since my life and
the people in it had expanded.
I went from a couple. To ----->
Just Me. To ----->
Robert and I. To ---->
Me, Robert, Two kids and a HUG ass dog!
I needed more space.
So, in October 2014, I moved to Mesa. It was weird,
inconvenient to travel, old and in the Suburbs, but worked for my life. For our life. And the great part was, it could
house ALL My clothes - that is, until everyone moved in ofcourse with all their stuff.. I now have to share ONE closet #wtf-ery
As my lease was coming to an end this October 2015, it made more sense to
buy a house. Interest rates were good and the house we were living in, just felt like it had bad JuJu. Looking for only two months, I found a house in Mesa I fell in
love with.
And that whole story leads me to this past weekend.
Moving is stressful on everyone. My body hurts, not being
able to find anything is annoying. But in the end….
It’s my home now.
REALLY
the first house I have owned since the house in Sandton..
Here is to New Beginnings......
