Sunday 15 January 2006

Pic of the day: Plenty of space and a peaceful view, what more could I ask for?

21 years?!

I mentioned for my landlord, in some connection, that I had lived there for 15 years. "Actually it is 21 years" was the answer. Well, I guess they have kept better track of it than I. In all fairness, I did not live there all that time in one stretch. I was away for a year or so, I am not sure but I believe this was my second (and last) year studying in Bergen, followed by my stay in Breimyrkollen, closer to Kristiansand. Breimyr was a nice place to live, if a bit on the small side for me. Bathroom and bedroom did not have separate windows, and I guess that could be smelled. But the location was near ideal, close to the family where I visited most often, and also close to another family of Friends. Good times.

The landlord there in Breimyrkollen needed the basement for a relative after some months, I don't think I lived there a year. I rarely did. When I looked for a new place, this was free again. The landlord was delighted to get me back, after some more dubious personage had lived there in the meantime. A disproportionate number of people who rent small apartments are in trouble and cause trouble. Most people who can, have a family and a home of their own. To choose otherwise is so rare as to not be counted on. Divorce, substance abuse and insanity are rampant among the renting singles. Yes, I am actually a pretty attractive tenant, which I guess says something.

And so I stayed here for over 19 years again. And accumulated all the clutter which you have seen in the occasional picture from the Chaos Node. While not most of my life, it is far longer than any other place, including my childhood home where I lived from I was born till I was 15. Also, to be honest, I think I have lived the best years of my life here. OK, there may still be even better years, if I improve as a person, but the body is past its prime now so that counts in the other direction. Also, in the past I used to have friends in a more concrete sense than today. (Of course, in my childhood I also had enemies, a pretty good reason to not count those years among my best, despite my loving and fairly wise parents.)

Anyway, just thought you wanted to know! No wonder it feels strange and a bit unreal, to leave this place. It really feels like home. I visit the new place daily, carrying stuff over, and look around and try to get used to it. But there will probably never be a place quite like this to me.