Things I like about the new place...

I'm taking a short break (ok, so what if a "short break" is three coffees, a Cadbury cream egg, an episode of 30 Rock, chasing the cat around the place and now a blog post...) from both planning for Russia and packing for the move to outline the things I like about my new place.

1) Location - 1/2 mile to Singing Beach, seriously? And I get a resident sticker for it this year? And around the corner from my bike shop (Scott, beware!)

2) Light - perhaps it's because where I live now is so damp and dark, but the amount of natural, bright sunlight in the new place is almost blinding. The boy (the furry, four footed one) is going to love this. There are big patches of sun all over the place most of the day.

3) Crosby's, the local supermarket - sure it's about the size of a convenience store, but it has Garden of Eatin's Guacamole chips and an impressive array of wine. Yee ha!

4) Small town - I'm noticing that there isn't the gridlock getting around that there is in Beverly. I've been more and more frustrated at getting around my hometown lately to the point where I just don't even try anymore. And drivers in Manchester are more friendly and courteous. Yee gads.

5) The building - I can't say it'll always be like this, but I've noticed crazy quietness, other than the little kids playing out front. Maybe it's because I'm up off the street and will be living on the second and third floors on top of that, but the street noise is much less.

6) The bike closet! I have two closets in the living room, and one extends all the way under the stairs. Looking at it, two words immediately come to mind: Bike Closet. Oh yeah, somewhere inside safe and sound but hidden that I can store the bike and all the bike stuff!

So while I'm giving up the shorter commute to work (Manchester adds 15 minutes each way) and the garbage disposal (I did nothing but drop spoons down it anyway) and my own laundry (which took 3 cycles to dry anyway), I think this will overall be a better move for me and the boy. It's just the packing and getting there that is getting to me.

Another coffee, a look at the Bicycling Buyer's Guide and then I swear I'll pack more...