Couch 229 - Acetominphen and

Great! Happy for you.

Dang, ugh, I want to give your mother a very sharp lecture. Hugs if you want.

Thank you for all the replies. It means a lot.

My move across country meant saying goodbye to my t of 11 years. She was crying - I was crying but it was really nice. While my Dad and I were driving to my new home she texted me to see how it went leaving my old house and making sure I got out safe. It'll be hard to find another t.

Had a terrible weekend, but then had a good video call with the BF last night and a good session with T this morning. This long distance thing really sucks, but it does present an opportunity for me to learn to be less reactive, less dependent on other people's emotions to feel stable and happy.

Oh, Pollbeth, that sounds so difficult. I'm so sorry.

It sounds like you're doing something brave and noble, though.

So many hugs, Lemon. What your mother said was awful, and you're already going through such a difficult time at school. Know that we're all rooting for you here.

A truly glorious breakfast while waiting for my furniture to come in

Is that a naughty #AD for the granola?

I'm glad things are coming together for you. Have you got an estimated delivery time?

8char

I hope you can still keep in touch with her she sounds like a fab T to have had in your corner.

I hope you come out of this year feeling more comfortable within yourself.

Hahaha no, I actually don’t like the granola all that well

No idea what day today (it’s coming via FedEx), but at least by the end of the day I should have a mattress and patio furniture! (The dining room table/chairs are coming later this week, but I’ll be able to eat on the patio furniture rather than boxes!)

*curls up on Couch, whimpers*

I've just had it all but confirmed that I won't be going back to the same physical workspace.

On one level 'it's only a building', on another...it was a building where I felt utterly safe.

Yeah, I'm about 95% sure that once they allow full capacity back in the office, we'll only be back one day a week. (It's apparently going to be role-based and my role doesn't need to be in-office apparently.) I didn't sign up for this. I'd be okay with WFH 2 days a week, but not 4! It's like the pandemic changed everything, but now that it's abating, nothing is going back to the way it was. It feels destabilizing. I'm sorry you're losing you safe space, Lost.

Hugs, Lost, I'm sorry.


Same happened with H.

Hugs, NP.

I have almost an opposite situation. I've worked from home for the past 10 years (freelance), usually here by myself, with H working in the office most days of the week pre-pandemic. Then, suddenly, both H and D were here all the time. D eventually went back to school and is in camp this summer (though some of those are only half days), but H's original worksite closed. He'll have a new one, but it sounds very similar to your situation, NP, only he might only go in every few weeks for meetings. I miss having the house to myself, to not having H randomly interrupt me while I'm trying to work, to not have to remind him sometimes to shut his door when he's talking loudly on a conference call.

Even things that might seem silly, like I generally do my work in the living room (which has no doors, though I do have a small desk in the bedroom). And sometimes it's like "I'm really sleepy, I'm gonna lay down on the couch with my eyes closed for a few minutes." But I can't really do that with him home, because he may want to come downstairs to get water or something to eat. I mean, I could always just tell beforehand or just go upstairs, but I don't like making it into a thing, if that makes sense. I'm an introvert--I like my own space.

'It's like the pandemic changed everything, but now that it's abating, nothing is going back to the way it was. It feels destabilizing.'

That's exactly it. Even though this was on the cards way before All This happened, not being able to work in that space for a year did nothing to lessen my attachment to it, and all that it represented. I've had enough now, and I want my life back, in whatever way that is available to me.

Funnily, I'm also very introverted and a pretty quiet person. But just being in the office setting fulfilled some social need for me. Hearing other people's work and social conversations, being able to walk up to someone's desk and ask them a question, saying "good morning" to the guy at the next desk even if that's the only time you spoke to someone all day. I miss all that. Granted, sometimes the stuff I liked was annoying. Like when people were talking too loudly about cars or the latest beer they tried or having people interrupt my flow by popping into my cube to talk to me. I still think the benefit outweighed the annoying stuff.

I miss working in an office at times, too, for the same reason. It's why, pre-pandemic, I'd go to a coffeehouse or taproom to do work for a couple hours one or two days a week, to be around people. I feel like my ideal scenario would be to eventually return to a full-time job, working in the office 2 days a week, home 3 days. Maybe with flexibility on which days or the exact hours.

Mini couch poll: for those who have lived in large apartment complexes, is it typical to get a welcome packet or a tour or something when you first move in? I got nothing (the girl just handed me the keys) and keep having to send the office manager emails like, “where do I park” or “what’s the key to the bike gate” or “how do I get a laundry payment cards.” Wouldn’t it be more efficient for them to just tell everyone all the info up front?

I almost always got welcome packets. And once, a 2-year-old welcome basket. The candy had turned white from age.

Last night i dreamt i bought another kitten and when i paid for it they gave it to me wrapped up in a sheet like a burrito completeyly covered its head in a paperbag. I had to catch a train and a bus and everyone looking at me with a wriggling bag. Anyway i got home and was introducing it to the other cats and i get an automated phone call to pick up my mum from a restaurant and her bill is $300 ( my mum has been dead for 10 years) and while i am running around trying to work out how to get the money this fake mum turns up i could tell she was fake because my mum was never that normal and the dream got weird and i cant remember the rest but i woke feeling really light and happy. Its weird

She was even braver tonight when they did an encore (I guess because there was no show last year?). Stayed out from under any furniture, though she was Clearly Displeased at the noise.

Yeah! You should have a checklist that you need to return, saying that each room is in perfect condition or needs repair. They will hold it over your head when you move out.

I got a plastic cutting board, jellies and weird crackers.

Didnt you get a tour of the laundry room? The bike gate should be the extra key they gave you - it should fit the pool, the gym, the common bathroom if any, etc.

Ive lived at my current apartment like a hundred years!