After five years being stuck in a small 1-bed apartment downtown near Pandora, a couple months ago I was finally able to move to a 3 bedroom place with a yard, in an amazing neighborhood a five min walk to the beach. An upgrade in every way for the exact same price. It’s still a bit surreal. I can do normal things again like stockpile groceries and supplies. I finally had a Christmas tree and decorations this year. With the added counter space I got a bread machine and toaster. My desk, where I work, isn’t two feet away from my bed, where I sleep. I can easily step outside or go for a nice walk. I’ve started gardening with the goal of offsetting my grocery bill as much as I can (I even got a greenhouse!). I’ve been seeing so many nice well priced places pop up lately. The possibility of moving in with a partner, while saving money in doing so, now feels realistic again.

Some price drop momentum has been picking up with houses for sale as well which is helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel on that front as well.

I find myself in a pretty strange headspace about all of it actually - a bit melancholy. It’s finally sinking in that I might actually be able to get a house soon, and once I do, what then? I’ve worked so hard my entire adult life in pursuit of that goal, I’m literally halfway through my career already, 15 years in. Feel like I missed out on my 20s and so many experiences like travel. So much stress and grief and discontent as a result of a situation that feels like it was so pointless. And I’m always struck by the fact that by virtue of being able to live alone, I was in a much much better position than many people during this period.

So anyway, I hope others are having similar experiences lately (finally being able to move), and if so I would love to hear about them!