I´ve had a lot of addresses

Moving is painful. (I should know. I've moved about 18 times, but I'll spare you with the actual list). It usually consists of me sitting in the middle of mountains of stuff I´ve collected over time spent in last apartment, wondering where the hell said stuff came from. With each move I learned how to better organize and simplify. When I left Brooklyn I was purging and giving things away like it was going out of style. It was easy then because I would look at something and ask two questions 1. will this serve me at all during the next year while I´m living out of a backpack? 2. Will this have any meaning or function when I return from backpack living? If the answer to either or both questions was no, out it went. It was liberating to say the least. But know what? This shit is damn easy when you don't own anything. 

Bike + Build. Spent the whole summer in spandex. Lived out of a small duffel bag, slept on the floor every night (save for the few times I got a couch in a church). Left Indiana in October with a small-ish traveling backpack and carry-on bag. Along the way I picked up the occasional souvenir, but generally kept it light and under control. Arrived in Buenos Aires in April with 5 new pairs of Havianas, Carnival gear, and gifts from Juliana´s mom. Started living the city life (trying to remind myself I was still a budget-conscious traveler). Realized that while it´s cool and hip to run around in holey clothes when you´re living in the mountains or lounging on the beach all day, it´s sort of different when you´re trying to socialize in a big city. Bought some shoes to help with this matter. Worked with what I had. Decided I liked Buenos Aires and wanted to stay.

Cut to present day. I knew I had collected some things, but didn't realize how many things until I packed them up to move from Pati's apartment to my new digs in Villa Crespo. Now, in the grand scheme of moves, it's nothing, but from what I had before, it seems like a lot. If I give myself credit, most of it I needed to survive winter (a few long sleeve shirts, a coat), but some of it I didn't (high heel shoes). But the move was easy, and now I’m settled in my amazing new apartment.

Amazing new apartment you ask? My friend Vera, from Vienna, who I met in Calafate, was living here for the last 2 months.  She happened to be leaving as I was looking for a place. Her roommates (now my roommates), Diego and Mariana are amazing. I seriously couldn’t have been luckier to stumble on this place, and the opportunity to live with this Argentine couple willing to help me struggle through my Spanish, and invite me into their lives. I’m super excited. And look at these photos, could it be a cooler space? The answer, no, it couldn’t.  

I felt sad to leave Pati, but know I will continue to see her all the time. There's always that pit of sadness when you move from one place to the next, that little twinge of doubt, even when you know it's the right choice. 

packing - what I originally packed in the good old backpack

new additions since the beginning, which looks worse because it's not as neatly or compactly put together as original anal packing*

the whole move...if only every move was the same

my room at Pati's

Living Room at Pati's

Dining Room/Jigsaw House

Kitchen

my new apt - my little loft space

shared kitchen/common area/bathroom

upstairs

downstairs

*If you're curious as to what exactly I've purchased that now lays in this pile, here it is by country: 

Guatemala - jeans & jacket (gifted), purse and tapestry (gifted), gloves, spanish workbook - Chile - dress, skirt, scarf, wool socks, leg warmers, thermals, purse, hiking poles - Brazil - 5 pr Haviana (gifted), 3 Carnaval shirts, 3 sarongs (gifted), 2 pr shorts, 1 tshirt - Argentina - 2 reading books in Spanish, 1 scarf, 2 tanks, yoga mat, bike, helmet, chucks, heels, flats, winter coat, jeans, 2 sweaters, leggings, 1 skirt, 4 lng sleeve shirts, Mac battery, 3 nike socks, cell phone

**With all that extra, I'm still working with 5 pair of undies and keeping it fresh.