If you’re keeping up, you’ll know we just moved from Miami, Florida to Asheville, North Carolina 6 months ago. Asheville was always meant to be a temporary visit as we make our way to our more permanent home in Bryson City.

As the move-out date closely approaches, I’m starting to get a twinge of sadness at the thought of leaving our first apartment in NC–– also our first home as newlyweds. Although it feels as if this place was always a purgatory, a 6-month passage between our wedding and real home, I will miss it. This townhouse allowed us to experience Asheville, a special city I will never forget.

Beyond being grateful, I’m slacking on packing… which also happened in Miami. I will never forget the look on my mother’s face when she walked in the day we moved and saw just how unprepared we were. So much was left to be done and yet the movers were expected a mere 2 hours later. She breathed in deeply and said, “It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

I think she was trying to convince herself more than me. We were still stuffing boxes when she got there.

This time, I’m feeling more prepared. After moving a total of 3 times in the last couple of years, this fourth time will be a breeze. Does this bring me joy? is a question I’ve asked myself over and over until I’ve whittled down our belongings to the essentials.

It’s also transformed the way I look at the places we live in. Jaime and I have rearranged our belongings in different ways acclimating to our new spaces and who we are at that time. Our objects and their subsequent arrangements mutating to fit each new evolution of ourselves.

Moving to Bryson City, our first actual house together, marks a new beginning and I’m feeling the clean slate. It’s a true fresh start for us. How will we place our items in this home? What will we deem ready to let go of? What will we fill it with?

I can’t wait to find out.