Moving away from home or away from your parents can be an exciting time. One filled with Pinterest boards, apartment hunting and ideological dinner parties you plan on throwing along with a couple movie nights (sorry mom and dad, that probably something you didn't want to hear). However, along with all the excitement comes the realization that things are expensive, the paperwork and time it takes is endless, and you are lacking both time and money. If anyone would have told me that I would spend my every waking moment leading up to the move in living in a world consumed by the thoughts that are an emotional roller coaster ride of excitement and learning, then I would not have believed them. But these thoughts make the process worth wild and I would not change it, not one moment.
1. When did things get so expensive?
Who knew a bed would cost several hundred dollars? Who new a Pink Kitchen-Aid Mixer would cost a little over $500? Who knew that moving in would make you feel as if you needed to work three jobs and maybe sell a couple organs just to decorate you new place to your taste? A GoFundMe to the cause titled, "Help a college girl live in her dream Pinterest apartment," is not sounding too bad right now.
2. Are those Pinterest apartments even real?
Three things can happen when you pin your dream apartment on you "Home Sweet Home" board. One, the furniture in the picture can not be found anywhere, almost like unicorns -- so pretty, but do they really exist? Two, when you find the store that has the furniture, it is either sold out or once again, expensive. Three, the DIY projects do not come out as you truly thought. This has me wondering are those Pins even real places? If so, then send me the number to their interior decorator.
3. How does one cook an entire meal...alone?
Sure, I can make a sandwich. I can make some scrambled eggs and on a good day, I can make an avocado salad. However, make a meal consisting of a protein, side dish and dessert. Or just making meals three times a day, has me contemplating starvation or calling Martha Stuart for help. Not to mention how do you iron your clothe, mop the floor and remove a stain out of the new couch?
4. Dinner parties start the day after moving in.
Although, I can not cook to save my life, I cannot wait to have relatives and close friends over for dinner. Set the table, use the nice plates, cook a meal (order food and pretend to cook a meal) and have nice adult conversation sounds like a dream come true. I think that is what millennials call "adulating."
5. I swear I am not intentionally picking the most expensive item in the entire store.
Having expensive taste can be an issue when you spend the weeks leading up to your move-in day falling in love with the most expensive items in the store not knowing that it is really worth that much. I solemnly swear it is not my fault I like nice things. That is what I am always telling my parents.
6. How many trees where killed in the process?
Thousands of signatures later, you begin to wonder how many pieces of paper will it take to complete the process. Luckily, E-signatures are a thing and I am sure that the Earth is just as grateful as I am.
7. Where did all of this stuff come from and where do I put it?
It is when I am looking through that draw that I haven't opened in years or going through the abyss that is my childhood toy box that I realize I am a hoarder. I have my kindergarten medals for perfect attendance and that one shirt I wore in middle school the day that cute guy (whose name I can not remember) spoke to me. I am not ready to part with them, but I also do not know where to store them. Mom, Dad, can my room at home become a free storage facility? Please.
8. Who is going to dispose of unwanted animals?
I am not a big fan of insects, specifically, spiders, roaches and lizards. The three that are most commonly found in living spaces. Fortunately, for my entire life, I have had someone to come and handle the situation while I scream my head off and climb to the highest near by area. However, when I am all alone does that mean I have to chase the roach around the bathroom and make sure I catch the entire lizard not just the tail? What about the spiders?
9. Birthdays! Halloween! Thanksgiving! Christmas! New Year's! Valentine's Day! TGIT!
How many days until the first holiday I will get to spend in my cute little home? Decorating with balloons, dressing up in costumes, having my family over for dinner, opening the gifts under the tree, count down the new year, having breakfast with your best friends, watching three hours of Shondaland TV on Thursdays. All moments that flash through your mind every hour of every day, andeach time the scene is more detailed than before.
10. Is it narcissistic to...
This probably crosses my mind more than anything else. Is it narcissistic to hang a good picture of myself? Is it narcissistic to get coasters with my pictures on them? Is it narcissistic to get a pink plunger for the toilet? The answer to all of them is probably yes, but if done with moderation and some sophistication, then we can just say it is self confidence.
11. Neighbors?
Are they nice? Are they loud? Are they friendly? Are they rude? Do they have kids? Are they young? Am I going to like them? Am I going to see them? Maybe it is Zac Efron! So many questions so little time, but I am so excited to learn the answer all of them.
12. Am I going to live here forever?
When the cast of "Fame" says, "I want to live forever," I can't help but relate the song to my first apartment because I have said that phrase in many forms since this process began. Will I move out after college, when I get married, after my first kid? If you ask me, I don't know, I hope I live there for a long time because I love my little home, but I am also smart enough to know that I shouldn't plan so far ahead anyways.
13. Random thoughts that keep me up at night.
Does my door have a peephole? Pinning some more! Can I see Macy's from here? Best friend, I don't know what I am doing! Do I need an alarm? Lock the door, you can't forget to lock the door! Who will be the first to sleepover? Healthy recipes! Where is Publix? Is that a crack in the wall? Paint colors! Is there Zumba near me? I am too excited too sleep!
I am beyond excited to move in and I am certain that all my questions have answers that I will soon discover. Maybe I will learn to cook a nice steak dinner or maybe I will realize it is my house and if I want a picture of myself, then that perfectly fine. Maybe, I will learn Macy's and Publix are both across the street. But I have already learned that the most amazing years are definitely coming up and I am way too excited to grow along with them in my first apartment.
