"It's just going to be weird"

I hate moving. HATE it. I always develop a severe case of pre-home sickness. I am unable to throw away things like calendars, ticket stubs, and old notes, because I feel like I never want to lose touch with the memories they carry...requiring me to carry even more stuff to a new house. It's awful. However, I've yet to find a 12 step program or Nostalgics Anonymous group to suit my needs.

The summer between high school and college, I occasionally become dizzy and lightheaded just trying to wrap my head around moving to La Crosse. Looking into my dorm room on move out date brought tears to my eyes despite it's jail cell like appearance. Two years ago, I was depressed to move a whopping 10 blocks across campus into a duplex with some amazing girls. I fail to understand it. Each big move has improved my life and led to fantastic memories (so fantastic that I'm reticent to move again). Somehow though, I still turn anxious every time I make a move.

I've moved into my beautiful new duplex in Onalaska. I've yet to completely unpack, but can't complain about the house. It's the largest, newest, and best home I've lived in since college. The shower feels like being caressed by the fingers of angels, the dishwasher is going to save me a lot of strife, my room is large, and I'm once again within a block of Kwiktrip.

Guess who has a garage!?

But I'm not a block from the marsh, campus, or the bluff. I can't run from home to the gym, or Riverside, or downtown, or to the houses of my college friends. And most significantly, I don't live with the same group of women.

A short list of why my "fros" (former-roommates. A term coined by Kara) are amazing:
These girls drove me to the ER and didn't even laugh at my crazy allergic poofy face (much), planned a surprise trip to Chicago, use awesome puns, and made birthday signs. They inspired me to stay active, but didn't judge me when I reached for another cupcake or ate all their leftovers. They watched WAY too much Pitch Perfect and made fun of me when I was clumsy, or got too many parking tickets, or drooled. They took me to Packer games, ski jumps, wine tastings, and HuHot...lots of HuHot. They got me through student teaching, subbing, job interviews, personal drama, and my first year as a science teacher. They kept me in one piece and laughing for two years. They rock my world.

Silly friends are the best friends

I am going to miss living with them tremendously, but plans have been made to see each other frequently and I'm about to start summer. I'm almost not even going to be home for the next two months.  I can be a big girl about moving, and I can let the excitement for summer trips and plans overshadow the usual moving blues. Life is good and it just might continue to get better.

Still lacking in some furniture,
but plenty of comfortable space for grading

I LOVE all the storage and appliances...now we just need a table