Starting the transition

Some things I’ve noticed this week that I’ve been back in the United States:

• I still don’t like driving!

Ok…..it is convenient to just hop in the car & run to the store.  But here I have to do that because there’s not a bus that I’ve figured out that can do that as well!  There is a bus station just a block over….I’ve found the Metro Trip app which I’ve downloaded on my phone.  We’ll see if it’s as good as MyTransport Singapore!  It does show that there’s a bus that will take me down to the Kroger about a mile away!  Yes, I could walk there…..

• Not only are there light switches & outlets inSIDE the bathroom – right next to the counter so I can dry my hair in front of a really big mirror – there’s an outlet in the toilet room!

Just a toilet…..and an outlet…..

Hmmmm…..it’s a room with just a toilet, a door that closes….I’m not sure I know why there is an outlet in there.

• The days are longer!

I’m no longer on a 7am sunrise / 7pm sunset schedule.  It creeps up onto 9pm without me even realizing it!  It comes from being further from the equator.

• Targets are awesome….and overwhelming

It really is great to walk into one store and get everything you need (literally….I don’t think there was anything on my list that I couldn’t find).  And what you need runs from cleaning supplies to throw pillows to iced tea & eggs!  However, to tell the truth, I have been very overwhelmed walking through.  I’ve gone from “IF I’ve found what I’m looking for, I’ve found ONE”, to “I’ve found what I need, but now I have 5-7 brands & types to choose from”!  I’m happy to find a grill brush easily, but do they have to be made in 6 versions?  A brush is a brush, isn’t it?

• Buying dairy products is no longer just a ‘treat’!

Remember my Cost of an Addiction post?  Check out the receipt below!  That’s a PINT of whipping cream for $2.24!  (And another treat…just above it:  almost a 1/2 gallon of UNsweetened iced tea for $2!)   Ok…..I could get used to this again.

And probably not the cheapest I can find it!

Overall it’s just been busy here as I’ve settled into a new house with not much more than a card table & folding chairs (thank you Lacey!), as well sleeping on air mattresses, buying beds and waiting for our storage items to be delivered this week.  Then another few weeks before the sea container arrives.

The hardest thing?  Feeling claustrophobic.  Odd…but true.  We have a lovely new house – empty – with lots of windows.  But it’s hot, humid, and buggy….you’d think not much different than Singapore.  But that 29th story allowed a long-distance view to Macritchie reservoir & breezes to blow the bugs away.  Even during the hottest times of the year, I could open the patio windows for a few hours in the morning.  Not so much here.

So I’m taking advantage of my porches, and trying to make sure I have my coffee outside before the day starts…..it helps.

Not in any ‘mood’ right now…..not missing Singapore greatly yet, not doing the happy dance being back in the States quite yet either.  But I’m chugging along, and taking each day at a time.    On to start another day…..