Decisions and Changes: Transitioning to New Surroundings

Early Afternoon, Thursday, July 25, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

I’m wrecked from that all-nighter I pulled a few days ago. Plus, I can’t quite believe I’ll be heading back to South Florida after eight years away. The move’s just over a month out, but it’s definitely on.

Yeah, settling into life in the countryside of New England was a bit rough at first, but I honestly thought I was starting to make a home for myself here. I figured if I gave it some more time, I’d eventually sort out all my worries about getting my bookshelves done and finding spots for my books, movies, tunes, and everything that makes it feel like home.

I’m still not familiar with Madison – since I’m not a local – and the only buddies I’ve got are Marc and Patti. I haven’t met any other neighbors apart from them, and dating seems like a long shot here, which kind of makes me feel more on my own than I should. Being shy and an introvert doesn’t help much, and getting around isn’t easy for me. Plus, I’m not a hometown kid.

Honestly, I was down to stick around for another year or so. Not exactly hyped about dealing with another freezing and snowy winter, but I figured if I slowly got used to the shift from summer to fall and then to winter, I would handle it

(I knew making friends wouldn’t be easy, and it’s not like I was the life of the party back in Florida. I’ve kind of come to terms with the idea that I will be on my own – at least in the love department – for a while, even if I’m not exactly excited about it.)

For sure, missing home and all the perks of city life played into why I would move back to Miami, but they weren’t the biggest reasons.

One of these days, I’ll get into the nitty-gritty of why I will end up back in the Sunshine State so soon after leaving. But for now, here’s what you should know:

My housemate didn’t want me to put my name on the lease.

For me to become a New Hampshire resident and get some benefits, I had no choice but to have my name on that lease.

Even though we generally get along, this lease thing has really gotten under his skin, and he’s pretty upset with me, feeling like I’ve wronged him because my name’s on it.

(I don’t make the rules. I follow them, though.)

Eric, a classmate of mine, happened to be in Vermont next door to catch the total eclipse in April. When he spotted a comment I left on his Facebook post about his trip, he realized I was nearby. So he and his wife Rosie made a quick detour on their way to Boston for their flight back home just to hang out with me.

I tried to stay upbeat about my new place, but Eric and Rosie were a bit worried about where I was staying. They thought the outside of the house looked nice, but since Eric (kinda funny because he’s a firefighter) can’t stand cigarette smoke and my roommate smokes, he didn’t get a chance to check out the inside.

Eric and Rosie could tell I was also a bit anxious about how remote Eidelweiss is, even though I tried to keep it cool. Just like that, they offered to let me move in with them. I didn’t jump on the offer at once – I figured I should give this New England adventure a shot, or at least wrap up my novel before considering another move – but I did admit that living with someone who smokes and being reliant on others isn’t exactly what I want.

I wanted to stick around until the end of September or maybe into October, but I’m not really into dealing with others’ passive-aggressive attitudes or the random but intense guilt trips. So, after the latest remark about my name not belonging on the lease, I kind of just gave in and hit up Eric to see if his room offer was still good. He confirmed it was, but I’ve got to wait it out until the end of August to make the move. I’m okay with waiting.