Our California Adventure

We're one week in and things are finally coming together. Lauren is all settled into her townhouse with her two roomies and their dog Kingston. We are almost settled into out tiny, tiny, 900 square foot apartment. Talk about a lifestyle change. The biggest adjustment would have to be watching people walk within 5 feet of our window. Certainly not something we're used to. I looked at this temporary move as a trial period to see if Rick and I could actually downsize to a smaller place and not kill each other. This past week we've spent a great deal of time asking one another to move out of the way. While I think we could live in a smaller place, not this one. Too, too small. Maybe 1500-2000 square feet. And definitely a better kitchen. The kitchen here is a one person kitchen. If you're standing in the kitchen, the fridge is on the left, the stove and microwave just in front of you, and the sink and dishwasher on the right. That's it, no room for anyone else. That being said, the appliances are all new, new vertical blinds throughout (my personal favorite), new carpet in the bedrooms (the cheapest carpet ever!) and new fake hardwood floors. I will not complain since I am only 15 minutes from beautiful Malibu Beach. Yesterday I dropped Lauren off at Pepperdine for class and headed to the beach. This beach. Cranked up the ipod and walked the beach for 90 minutes. The best 90 minutes I've had in about 2 months. Maybe I'll lose a few pounds while I'm here. That's a big maybe! The restaurants are amazing, seafood up the wazoo. My fav. I'm a little worried about the pizza but I haven't craved any yet so it's been a non-issue. I may have to make my own when the time comes.

Pros and cons of our new temporary life:

pro-all new kitchen appliances

con-kitchen is exactly 3 feet square

pro-pool and playground outside our balcony

con-all the kids are driving Ozzy crazy

pro-all new furniture

con (pro for Lauren)-Lauren gets it all next year

pro-cheap to live here

con-expensive to move

pro-Calabasas is incredible

con-I haven't run into the Kardashians yet ):

pro-don't have to take the trash to the street

con-the dumpster is kind of far away

pro-new carpet in bedrooms

con-cheapest carpet ever

pro-we live about 30 min. from Audrey and Henry

con-we can't see them every day

pro-the most incredible fruits and veggies at the local Farmer's Market

con-someday I will have to return to Chicago and the shitty produce at Jewel

pro-I get to be with my honey all day, every day

con-my honey still has to work. BOO

All in all, we're adjusting. There are worse things in life than wintering in Southern California.