My cat is snuggled next to me on the loveseat. He’s not yet adjusted to me being in the basement a lot, particularly at snack time. But tonight some tuna and a snuggle seem to be making up for it.
It’s still a bit strange to be living with my parents. The line between family and simply being a boarder is very foggy.
Like a boarder, my schedule is not tied to theirs except for using the bathroom, washing clothes, or pulling the car in for the night (we can’t park on the street unless we tell the police first, else they’ll give a ticket). My room is my own to do as I please, as is the corner of the basement I’ve carved out for myself. My meal schedule is different during the week, and I have my own cupboard space so I can eat what I want.
And yet, I’m still family. My mom and I go shopping together at Kohls and Boston Store. She bought me Puffs and made real, homemade chicken & rice soup when I got a cold last weekend. I have undertaken the extended task of organizing my dad’s workbench in the basement (since I’m taking up some of the space, and I just had plenty of practice organizing myself for my move). And I’m going through boxes of my old things, mostly middle school or earlier, giving away toys and tossing junk.
To top it off, I’m sort of a resident in two places now, since my condo hasn’t sold yet. Until it does, I don’t think it will feel as though that chapter of my life is over.
I am still applying to web design jobs. While I want income, I find myself hoping that I can make that income via stained glass and jewelry, and not in an office job. Maybe I’ve just been out of work too long, and now I value having my own schedule and dress code.
My art-a-day project is officially on hold, particularly since I’m going to be concentrating my creative efforts on stained glass.
So anyway, I’ve come to realize that I shouldn’t continue to think of my new circumstances as abnormal. It’s different than the last ten years have been, but this is just my life right now.