Tomorrow is the big day. A new beginning. The first day of the rest of my life. No, I’m not getting married just yet, but I am starting a new chapter in my life – in a different way. Tomorrow I will leave the suburb I have lived my whole life; where I went to primary school and high school; where my family and friends reside; where I know all the streets like the back of my hand, and move to a new suburb, about an hour away. The physical distance is easy to cross, freeways and public transport will make the trip short; the biggest hurdle I have found is knowing that my best friend will no longer be at the other end of the street, or mum and dad just round the corner. What if I need a shoulder to cry on, or I run out of money before pay day? If I lock myself out or my car breaks down? I have lived a very sheltered life up until now, and all that is about to change.
When I first moved out of the parental home at age 22, I thought I knew it all. It was a case of I am young, I am free and I want to be out on my own!! My first realisation I simply didn’t know it all came on my first day in the new house – I was finally alone with the boxes and all I could think was I had no one to talk to! I burst into tears and called my girlfriend, tearing her away from an afternoon of shopping with hubby to let me cry on her shoulder. My initial shock that I was on my own and an adult now subsided and I have had nearly 4 amazing years in that house. Some alone, and some with housemates, the memories I have made in that house – my first ‘own’ home – will be things I can remember forever.
I can’t say I outgrew the house, it’s a 3 bedder with a double carport and I’m about to shift into a 1 bedroom with barely any wardrobe and no backyard, but I think perhaps I outgrew the area. The eastern suburbs are a great place to live and raise a family, all developments with parks and lakes; but I have bigger fish to fry. All the action is in the city – work, nightlife, fashion and food –
My commute will drop from an hour each way, to approximately 20 minutes. The extra hour in bed will be a godsend – I am hoping my stress levels will drop – and proximity to city means I don’t have to worry about catching trains home alone in the dead of night. I can pop into work on the weekends to use my computer for study, and quit my gym membership and stroll (ok, run)
I can find so many positives with my move tomorrow, I am unsure if I am more nervous about the big change, or if I will like it so much I won’t want to leave. At the moment I am so tired from 8 days of rapid packing and organising that I am losing the will to be excited and just want to be in there already. Unpacking looms before me, but I have lot’s of friends and family to help me – they know they have all already been such a mammoth help to me over the past four years!
And so, a roll call of my nearest and dearest – thank you for everything you have done for me in the past and for everything you will (probably, definitely, maybe) do for me in the future. Love you all xo
Mum and Dad- for being there, for financial support, for fixing broken things, lifting heavy things and loving me
My brothers – for endless hours of hard labour, mowing lawns, decking and general maintenance, and just for being ace brothers
Jacqui, Nick, John, Neil and Tim – for painting, electrical work, plumbing and other associated household stuff when you were so generous with your time and skills
Kelly and Wendy – the fun we had cleaning when I moved in, any chance you are free on Sunday?
Wendy and Kerryn – for being awesome housemates and brilliant friends
Wendy and Geoff – moving day buddies and people with a truck. Thank you.
Paula – for picking up the boxes, Nicole – I’m sorry I had to cancel dinner, Meaghan and Beth – for offering to help, baking or offering to bake and to everyone within hearing distance at work who has listened to me complain about public transport for the past two years – relief is in sight!
Disclaimer – If I have left you off this list, I am not ungrateful! I just have 100 zillion things in my head and chances are you are under a box or tucked away in a cupboard. I still love you and appreciate your help – let me know and I will acknowledge you publicly! xx
