friday five:

1. How many houses/apartments have you lived in throughout your life?

I have lived in 10 different houses and/or apartments, including 1 dorm. Three of them I lived in, then moved away from, and then back into.. The first couple months of my life, I supposedly lived at my maternal grandma's house. Then we moved into the house I now refer to as "mom's" house- I spent the majority of my first 18 years there. At the age of 18, my mother kicked me out (for the second time), and I moved into my grandma's house again.. until my dad got us an apartment near my mom and sister. We stayed there until we couldn't afford rent anymore, and I moved in with my dad's youngest sister for the summer (mostly to watch her kids). That winter, I moved back in with my mom.. until my sister and I had to leave (because she tried to strangle my sister). We then moved in with my dad's dad for a while. Until he and my dad rented a house big enough for the four of us. Then I went away to college- stayed in the dorms for 1 year, and then my roommate and I got our own place for a year. Then I moved back to my dad's (with D). Until he was stationed in Mississippi for 6 months or so. After that stint, we moved back in with my dad. Until he kicked us out. Then we lived with my uncle's ex wife for a month. Until we got this place. LOL Um.. did you get all that?

2. Which was your favorite and why?

To be honest, I really enjoyed my apartment in Arcata. It was in a small complex - maybe 20 apartments. The kitchen window overlooked a cow pasture. We had a sky light in the living room. My bedroom window overlooked a great little Mexican restaurant. Just across the street from there was a small strip mall with a coffee house, video store, hardware store, even a market. At night I left my window cracked (even if it was cold and rainy), and I could hear someone's radio playing loud enough to lull me to sleep. Sometimes I lay in bed til midnight, when I'd sneak out (since my roommate didn't really approve of me leaving late at night) to go pick D up from work. Really, the only thing I didn't like about living there was having a roommate (I would have preferred sharing the place with D), but it was just the perfect town to be in. If there were more jobs up north, I'd move there in an instant.

3. Do you find moving house more exciting or stressful? Why?

I've found it to be a lot of both. Packing, cleaning, deciding what to toss and what to keep for the next place.. it's exhausting. I hate moving from place to place. It's a big pain. I've been thinking a lot about moving lately (for obvious reasons), and I get more and more anxious. I can't wait to leave this place.. but I know I'll be the one doing most of the packing. I'll have to pack and take care of a baby at the same time. I'll be worried about making sure we get to our desination in one piece. Oh.. and giving the new place a really good cleaning before we get settled in. I don't trust the people who clean rentals. I want to make sure I can sit on a toilet (or in a bathtub) and not pick up someone else's germs. Call me crazy.

4. What's more important, location or price?

You know, if the apartments here cost as little as they do in Ohio, I'd be afraid- I'd pass on it in a second. And from what I've seen, the cheaper the place, generally the more run-down it (or the nieghborhood) is. I want to live in a relatively safe place. I want to be able to take walks in the evening with my family, and not worry about getting shot. But I'm not going to pay up the ass for a place, either. I want a nice place, in a nice area, at a nice price.

5. What features does your dream house have (pool, spa bath, big yard, etc.)?

My dream house has a huge kitchen with an island in the center, and a bay window above the kitchen sink. The master bedroom is huge, with lots of windows, above which I will hang long, flowing curtains (and sheers)- I want them blowing in the breeze! Just off that bedroom would be a huge walk-in closet- basically a room or a hall with shelves, dressers, and rods on which to hang lots of clothes. My bed will be huge, with lots of pillows. You'll have to use a step-stool to get up onto it. The master bath has a spa, with candles all around it. Perhaps even a little fireplace right there, and a huge window with a view of the forest. I think a sunken den or living room would be awesome. I want a library, complete with fireplace, leather furniture, and a mahogany desk. A play room for the kids is a must. And a game room for the adults, as well.. My house will have huge front and back yards, fenced in. Lots of trees- that is a definite requirement.