Though it's taken me a month to get around to a belated goodbye to my CBD cave, in other ways it's taken me that long to understand why moving has brought me to a space that seems so strangely normal and natural.
My new and elsewhere space, though not CBD central, is still not far away - an original inner city suburb of eclectic peoples; a mostly older crowd (.) living in their (mostly) renovated wooden villas and bungalows.
My own space, another apartment complex but 70's style...white stucco ceilings and concrete block interior wall. But the sea and city views are the best reason to rush home from work!
Somehow I have not experienced the usual awareness of living in someone else's space for at least a few first days...the only reminder is a built in smoky smell that assails me in the entrance hall.
But I know this area so well the only real strangeness is realising when I am out and about in my familiar and favourite socialising spot, that I can just walk home from my usual shops and eateries and galleries...no car needed.
And my space is small still, the kind of small called 'cosy' by sales agents! But my unpacking has happened in record time, all boxes finally found their place this weekend- pictures on walls, local takeaway menus stashed on top of the frig, neighbours met (and complained to about late-night noise..)and all mail and suppliers sorted
According to the Interchange Institute's Moving Matters Final report 2005
"Speed in doing some settling-in tasks was
especially related to better outcomes:
unpacking all boxes, organizing the kitchen
and furniture, displaying photos, having local and
home visitors, and pursuing hobbies."
http://www.interchangeinstitute.org/files/GraebelMovingMattersFinalReportMarch2006.pdf
Walking the area has shown me local shortcuts and local people, and my clincher discovery was the gorgeous and surprisingly lovely park nearby; seemingly small from the road as it flows down the valley, but filled with luscious, jungle-like giant morton bay figs and wondrous trees of all descriptions with roots spreading outwards to claim the nearest ground.One of my minor sadnesses on leaving the city (one of the few ) was the thought of not having access to the glorious central city university park...a place to unwind, read and walk for moments alone.
So, time to be moving on with my own research, and my newest most interesting discovery is the Interchange Institute's research into the influence of architecture and design on relocation. I look forward to their findings with interest and to further focusing my own areas of New Zealand matters and questions.
More to come...
