Movers & Shakers

Farewell Washington, DC, hello Alexandria, Virginia!

The annoying thing about moving is that regardless of the mileage and whether you're moving across the country, or executing a small move like us (8.4 miles across the Potomac), moving is still a daunting task. You still need to go through every article under your roof, put it in a giveaway box or a moving box, label it, stack it in a corner and hope for the best.

The good thing about going through e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g is that you find tiny treasures, get a chance to put similar things together (all my yarn in one place? Shocking!, come across things you know a friend would love and pass them on, see small reminders about how far you've come in the past few years and dream about the future as you bubble wrap, tissue paper and tape gun your way into a new home.

I keep getting distracted as I write this post from my new state because... wait for it... I have an office. An actual tiny room with a door that closes, a window that overlooks a small backyard where my husband hung Christmas lights this morning, birds are singing, bookshelves that mean all my knitting and crafting books are together and organized, a ceiling fan that helps with blocking, a printer that is not in cahoots with the devil and it's all mine. I've never had a small space of my own like this and I'm relishing it. I know I'll get good work done in here and be able to close the door and walk away rather than always seeing the mess on my desk, reminding me that a deadline is looming and I better hop to it. Yes, the deadlines are still there, but being able to separate family time from work time will be a most welcome change.

I made a small pile of books on my nightstand and am determined to read more. I think we'll live better in this new house. The backyard means both my son and pug will have plenty of running around room. Yes, we still have one foot in the city and now one foot testing the waters of suburbia, but this in-between place we now call home makes us feel more like a unit. No more upstairs neighbors that have elephants as pets, no more drunk frat boys in the hall (there is no hall anymore!), no crossing of fingers that the elevator will come soon so I can do last call with the dog in my pajamas, no more concierge holding my mail hostage and no more 10 trips to bring the groceries in. More of our friends live here and instead of standing out because we have a kid and a dog, we fit right in because we have a kid and a dog.

DC will always have a special place in my heart. It felt more like home than NYC ever did. Callum was born there. Capitol Knits came to be because we lived there. I explored my roots and joined the DAR and Mayflower Society. I roamed museums, became inspired, learned more about myself and pushed my creativity to new heights. So even though we only moved 8.4 miles and crossed a state line, I feel like we crossed an invisible boundary into a place where we belong.

Welcome home, friends.