09/ 04/ 2017
Every move I’ve made either to a new city or a new apartment has been coupled with a feeling. Going to college, it was excitement around taking a step toward adulthood and experiencing a real sense of independence. Eight-years later, I remember stepping off the plane in NYC and getting a text from one of my college roommates welcoming me to the City. I was shocked in a I cannot believe I am actually living here sort of way.
As I mentioned in my last post, I got a job offer on the day I was moving out of my apartment. After accepting, I had two weeks to find a new home while couch surfing with Harlow the Cat. There was only one thing I was completely certain of during my search, which was that I wanted to live alone.
I’ve never lived alone before. The way I saw it, roommates were always necessary to staying on budget. After a financial consult from my mom, I decided that I could make it work if I was willing to cut back in other areas. So I put in an application on a newly renovated, rent stabilized, one-bedroom apartment in way Upper Manhattan.
It’s been nearly three weeks since I moved into my new place. With this move, I feel the most adult that I ever have. Adhering to a new minimalist lifestyle, I am being very thoughtful about the new things I bring into the apartment. For example, I haven’t purchased any new furniture yet as I wanted to truly settle in first and figure out what I actually need in order to make the space the most functional. Another thing is that I am opting to buy less pieces of furniture while optimizing the storage possibilities of each piece. Placing this much thought into building my new space feels very adult to me.
One thing I did buy was a new comforter in all white. Something about an all white comforter says grown up to me. I remember freshman year of college picking out a Hawaiian printed comforter for my dorm room and doing a surf theme. My dad handcrafted my twin bed with a surfboard inspired headboard the next year, which I had him upholster with tie-dyed printed fabric. With that personal history of interior design in mind, you can see why an all white comforter is symbolic of adulthood.
I also considered Harlow the Cat’s needs when viewing apartments. One reason I was willing to pay more for my new place is that the window sills are large enough for her to sit on and they are plentiful. The radiator is also boxed in and gives her a cozy place to sit and climb on.
What I’ve learned is that in making a choice to live alone, I will be approaching adulthood differently. It’s not clear yet what this will look like, but I know that making decisions will be a part of it. Perhaps it’s about not compromising in my own home. Or maybe it’s as simple as choosing to leave the dishes in the sink because I’m the only one using the kitchen and am totally fine with it. But maybe this new journey in adulthood is about believing my instincts have my back.
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