I love my new place. The light here is lovely. Between this place and I… we shall be doing some wonderful collaborations. I just know it.
How strange it is. I first saw this place over a year ago. Right there and then I knew we had a destiny to fulfil with each other.
It was early days though back then. I wasn’t ready… it wasn’t time… and it didn’t happen. Back then I didn’t know where I wanted to be. More to the point… I didn’t care. So displaced was I.
Then… right after Christmas while staying with my daughter… I walked past the place again on my early morning walk. This time there was a sign in the front garden facing the boardwalk that surrounds the lake. I stood for a long time looking… and then turned and walked away.
I put it out of my mind and flew home.
Then on my flying visit last month… [remember the one week that turned into four...] the place finally grabbed my undivided attention. Incredibly the sign was still there… and this time I just knew. Don’t ask me how… or why. But something told me this was where I had to be [at least] for the next short while.
Like I said before… nothing is ever for nothing. Nothing is ever forever.
Chairs lining up to get out of storage… [chuckles]
The place is still empty awaiting the removalist van on Thursday… but already it feels like home. Already there has been laughter… and cooking.
I can’t help but feel my Dad would have been just a little proud… as trusty toolbox in hand… I managed to conquer most tasks except for Emily’s bed frame which shall for the time being remain a mysterious challenge in the basement until I can figure out how to reassemble it!
The mattress we managed to (girl)handle up two flights of stairs… the infernal thing lurching and wobbling around precariously as one step at a time… amid gales of laughter… we eventually hauled it to the top. I now have biceps!
Paintings… hot on the heels of the chairs… they smell freedom… [grin]
It’s raining today and I’m glad. Huge banks of puffy grey clouds are blowing past the kitchen window and the wind is whipping up the water across the lake. It’s cooler here. And it’s cosy inside.
Earlier I was out in the small terrace garden pulling some weeds. It felt good to be out in the rain.
The sky looks amazing… as does the light in this room. Although way more urban… this place reminds me of the home I left behind well over a year ago… and the lovely light that was there.
I didn’t think I’d ever find that light again. But it’s here.
Somehow I knew it would be… and for now that is enough.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Where are you Jean?
I might have preferred “how” are you Roger (((chuckles))) but if you insist… I’m in SE Queensland not far from Brisbane. The Gold Coast actually. The place is growing on me. The move I guess is not so much about where I am geographically [I can do what I do anywhere] as where I am creatively. And now with more space… both practically and creatively… I can at last move on with planned projects. Hope all is good with you? How was the beach in the British Virgin Islands? I hope you have some sketches for us…
I can see some serious painting/writing/musing coming on Jean! And the environment looks perfect. Have fun setting up your studio. Orooooo. AG X
Thanks Andrew
It feels like the calm before the storm waiting for my stuff to arrive. However I have work table assembled and enough work to go on with until the truck gets here. I’m on a mission… can’t you tell? (((LOL))) btw I have the book you loaned me in safe keeping. I haven’t quite finished it but as soon as I do I shall get it back to you. What an inspirational read!
Places call to us, Jean, sometimes with mysterious voices we can’t quite hear but understand. Quite a few years back, while looking for a place to live, I answered a notice for a rental on what turned out to be on a lovely tree-lined street. I looked at a couple of apartments in the same building and neither was quite right, but I looked out the window of the front apartment and saw a charming 4-apartment complex with a postage stamp front lawn and shaded courtyard across the street, and the voice I mentioned spoke to me. I heard it but had no way to heed it, except that as my apartment search dragged on I would find myself turning off the freeway at that exit and driving down that particular street. And then one day a rental notice appeared outside the aforementioned complex. The comfy ground-floor apartment was perfect, I took it and have loved it ever since.
How cool is that. You just [knew]. Funny how that happens isn’t i? And all that stuff like turning off the freeway… driving down the street… happening past… seeing yourself there. Knowing. I had thought to write about it… so profound the phenomena has been in my life. Especially recently. I think it’s also funny how these things might not seem like the logical or rational choice at the time. The thing presents itself there… and despite whatever conscious or unconscious resistance at the time… you already know the outcome. In some way you know it’s going to happen. It’s a tired cliche… but God/Fate/the Universe [whatever] sure does move in mysterious ways. I guess our job is to learn to run with it. For my part… I’m trying. I must be. Yesterday I found a hole in my joggers… (((chuckles)))
Jean, It makes me feel happy all over, knowing you’ve found your place and took the plunge. It reminds me of finding the place we now live in–The Realtor gave me three listings to view–The first one wasn’t a fit, but when I drove up the drive to this one, I just knew I was home. The third listing was never looked at.(LOL) That was about 16 years ago! Hope you’re as happy in your new digs as we still are. Hugs to you, Anita.
did you lose that cool studio I saw in the vid??
Thanks Anita
So funny how that happens eh? Some things we just know. I will miss my beautiful far north queensland but this place has so many benefits for me at this point in my life/career. That’s hard to ignore. Thank you for the hugs… they’re always so lovely to receive even/especially from half way round the world!
Hey Nick
Yes… I needed more space and a change in location. This place is just great. I have a whole floor of workspace that opens onto a paved terrace and garden. It looks out onto the lake and the light here is pretty amazing. I haven’t got everything set up yet… but when I do it will be the best workspace I’ve ever had. Gotta pinch myself. Can’t wait to get working…