UNEXPECTED SUMMER

Photo by Sage on our walk this morning

June is approaching its end. A month of no school and another month and a half to go until the start of yet another school year. But we will refrain from mentioning school for a while longer.

This summer is not turning out as expected. As I had hoped for last year, when I wanted to spend a summer elsewhere. Anywhere but home. And especially now that we have moved. A long and exhausting month of moving from one apartment to a smaller one. Still in the same complex. Still not set up, as we are recovering from hauling endless boxes, plastic bags, and furniture down one flight of stairs and up three for two weeks straight.

It was an attempt to save some money, as rent here in Austin has become unbearable. But with the transfer fee, hiring a moving company to carry the large furniture, and double rent for a month as we lived at both places, the savings won’t be seen until later this year. Long after the school year starts.

Had they only given us a reduced price at renewal, as they were offering new tenants, we might not have felt the need to move. But as a single mother, with one income, it has become necessary to make some unpleasant choices. Sometimes I wonder if we should have moved into the one-bedroom unit, as we initially planned. We would have had to put most of our belongings into a storage unit, but we would have saved much more money. Then again, it might not have worked out so well. We will have to live with this decision and see what happens next year when our lease ends.

In the meantime, we will enjoy the small moments that life has to offer. Such as peaceful walks in the morning and cups of freshly brewed cappuccinos at home, during this unexpected summer.