I’ve been trying to figure out how I want to lay everything out at my new apartment. It’s a bit difficult, unfortunately, since I’m not certain where everything might eveb fit. I never saw the exact unit I’m renting (I saw a similar model in a different building) and I have no idea which of the various internet jacks into the apartment will be the one that is active as far as my ISP is concerned. Also, my couch is huge. It can be broken up into smaller pieces, sure, but it’s always a bit weird to use when it is. Most of my stuff fits together in rooms in pretty specific ways, and I’d want to try to keep things that are currently near each other together in the new apartment. I think I have an idea, based on what I’ve seen, that will get it all to fit and I’ve got a lot of really fun ideas on how to lay things out in interesting ways. All of which might be moot since the location of the internet port is going to really dictate where my computer goes and, if I want to improve on my current streaming setup, where my entertainment center will go. I’ll have some ability to work around awkward or difficult origin points for my internet setup, but only to a degree since fifty-foot cables can only do so much for spreading out devices.

Plus, I want to paint. I also want to actually frame and put up some of the art and posters I’ve bought over the years. I want things to be cozy, open, and multi-purpose. My current apartment (as I write this) is very sectioned off with very purpose-oriented spaces. My bedroom is just for my bed and my clothes. My office is where my computer and tabletop gaming stuff lives. My living room is where my TV, video games, and books are. I tend to spend a lot of consecutive time in each space without moving much in the other spaces and I rarely change activities while I’m in a single space.

All of which is the result of how 2020 and 2021 twisted my life, pushing me to roam between rooms by myself, to confine my very few guests to a single space (that was easy to clean), and to need a division of space to keep my work and leisure times separate. Also, my apartment is set up to reinforce this, with all of these spaces branching off a small, rather skinny hallway that is full of box fans since My apartment’s closed off shape requires me to more directly move the air through the hallway if I want the AC or heat to be even sorta evenly distributed through my apartment.

I miss having open spaces, where air can freely travel and that serve a variety of purposes. I don’t like going to a specific room (and spot on the couch) to watch TV or play video games. I don’t like having one spot for reading books. I don’t like being confined to a single space while I’m working from home because it’s the only place I can use my computer. What started as deliberated sectioning, back when the various rooms of my apartment was all the work/life separation that was available to me, it made sense for things to be this way. Now, it just serves as a reminder of how awful and alone the past three years have been. I’m ready for something new.

The new place is just over one hundred square feet smaller than my current one. Some of that came out of the kitchen (which is fine), but most of it came out of my living room area. Sure, I’m not using the space in the most efficient manner in my current apartment, but I’m going to miss it when its gone. Probably. It might be nice for things to be a bit cluttered and bunched up, though. It’s not like the blank white walls of these apartments will be lending my space any personality. I’ll have to build it all myself (which is why I’m painting and going to try to hang some framed art around the place).

Who knows. I might even buy some plants. I’ve got a little corner self that would be good for some smaller pots and plants. I’ve also wanted a larger, indoor bush type thing for a while, so that could be fun. Greenery of any kind would be good and I’ve got plenty of experience with plants, thanks to doing a lot of gardening for my parents while I was growing up. Could be a nice way to spruce and clutter up the place so it feels more comfortable once I’ve gotten everything settled. Or maybe there won’t be enough space for stuff and any amount of cluttering will just wind up making me feel clausterphobic. It’s really difficult to tell ahead of time, since the only floor plans I’ve got are inaccurate 3D renders. The day this goes up, though, I’ll be picking up my keys and will hopefully be able to start figuring things out in earnest. I’d really like to get settled in a single weekend, if I can.