News...

I was called in to my landlady's office last week. "Hm" I thought, "I wonder what that's about?" Several thoughts went racing through my mind, practically all at once. Were there new complaints about the music? Was someone complaining about the bird chatter--which I will admit can get a bit loud. I've been half expecting the people across the back yard to say something. Were nine students suddenly too much to have coming in and out, albeit I teach only 2 days a week? Worries. Worries. Worries. Maybe it would be none of those things. Maybe it was just some mundane matter. "Don't worry about what you don't know." I said to myself. It semi worked, but I did try to come up with responses to all those possible scenarios. I thought if I went in prepared I'd be calmer and better able to navigate the situation.

It turns out not to have been any of the above, but it was also not a mundane matter. I, along with the other 3 tenants in my building, are being asked to leave. Yup. It was an eviction notice! Well that's not mundane at all! I wasn't prepared for that one.

In my preparation for the office visit, it had bounced back and forth in my mind--in case there arose some unsolvable issue: the question of whether I would let her know my plans for moving to NH. I wasn't sure I was quite ready to be that committal about it.

On the spur of the moment I let her in on my plans. Truth be told, lately, the idea of waiting until retirement age to leave NYC had morphed into an idea to get back to the country in 3 or 4 years, and that in turn had been rapidly morphing into the idea of sooner than later.

I mentioned wanting to wait until spring as it was starting to cool down and I didn't want to move the birds when it was cold. As has been the case in my 20 years in this apartment, she was very nice, and told me I could have until spring.

So there it is. Come next summer--barring any unforeseen circumstances--I will be back in the country! I'm going to let you in on a secret: I'm happy! I almost wish I wasn't going to have to wait until spring. But honestly, spring will be here in no time so that's fine. There's so much to do in preparation. Like find a house for one thing! Like obtain a driver's license for another thing!

Big changes ahead. Good ones, I hope. I've been in NYC for 35 years and I'm ready. It had really started to get me down lately. I expect some ups and downs in the process of getting from here to there, but I have an inkling it's not going to be too bad. One reason for that is that I will continue to work for the same company and will be making a once-a-month trip to the city for an overnight stay. I will be able to plan this monthly visit to coincide with cultural events of interest.

I think it's going to be good. :) <- notice my smile! And I'm so happy my birds will have an outdoor flight in the foreseeable future, I hope. :)