Moving

I just recently decided to stay in Taos another year. My writing is on a roll and I've always felt that I needed to be here in this landscape, environment, artsy culture to inspire me. And the book's not done - hopefully it will be within a year. So, when I first moved here I wasn't too picky about location/price for an apartment because I thought it would only be for six months... I remember my landlord smiling, saying, "they all say that" - something about the Mountains and bewitching quality to the air that sucks you in. I decided that I needed something smaller and more affordable. I found something "off the mesa" - that higher than town, with the expansive sky and view of the mountains place - in town, "near the plaza". I'm beginning to speak Taoseno. It' on Destino Lane (ironic - my current place is on Wisdom Way) - of course all the addresses have both the mailing as well as physical address. Dont' know my mailing address yet - I've heard they have a neighborhood mail box down the street.

It is a smaller place, 375 sq feet compared to over 900. It's a studio apt on the back of a duplex(full one bedroom with a fenced in front yard); it has a small galley kitchen complete with saltillo tile floors, oak cabinets and shelving, my god I'll have some counter space.... The middle room is a combo living room/bedroom and then there's a full bath - with tub. Also included is a garage for storage space and a seperate laundry room with complimentary use of the washer/dryer. Whew no more trips to the Pinch a Penny laundromat - at least for now. The price is $225 less a month than what I'm paying and it includes utilities and trash removal. I'll be moving 6/1, just one week before I leave for an extended visit back East, beginning with the IWWG cfc at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs for 10 days.

Other than the price savings the best thing about the new place is that I can walk to town, the grocery store, favorite cafes, and bookstore. It's much leafier and greener than the mesa, lots more shade. Which will probably come in handy in the upcoming warmer months.

So here's my wish list for my visit to New England & NY - not necessarily in order of priority: visits with family and friends, writing conference, a NY deli lunch, lobster, trips to the ocean, at least a few rainy days(I miss the rain!), homemade ice cream, shopping in a real mall, hiking in the white mountains, swimming - lots of swimming - Italian food (I know just the place in Holderness, NH), fried clams, lunch at the Chinook Cafe in Conway - hope I can cover it all in 3 weeks!