Under't to Above't while in't

Well.

Well, well, well.

Welcome to my new abode.

Five stories above Congress Street, a rent check for $50 more but saving $70 in the process.

I think Sebastian is completely sold on being the Lord High Kitty of Congress Street, surveying the passing multitudes, free from the distractions of mice or excessive cigarette smoke.

We're now ensconced here at 645 Congress Street. This building started life as a hotel, fell into disuse and was, most recently, used by the University of Southern Maine as an intown dormitory.

From all reports (some of them from my colleagues at the Orchard) this place was pathetically thrashed - fist holes in the walls, butt prints on the ceilings. It wasn't that students (well, most students) wouldn't tear-ass around in any dorm - it was that the University just didn't seem to care all that much, refusing to put the resources into the space to make it worth respecting.

Sadly,I think some things come too easily.

Still, my dear friend E. has been pointing this place out to me throughout its construction. She's been consulting with the builders and owners about how to make it attractive for contemporary intown folks - strange to think that includes me.

The building has one apartment reserved as a meeting/community room - it can also be rented as a guest-room extempore' - if one has company, it can be rented.

E. also insisted on a large bike room, very secure but accessible to the street by electronic key card.

Moving in - most of moving in - was accomplished in three trips. I have to thank my friends the W's, who live just around the corner. They - along with E.H's huge pickup truck - made it easy.

I think I was much better packed this time than the last - there was much less of a panicked air to the process. The last time I had to get rid of 27 trash bags of useless things, dropped off all over the peninsula in the middle of a raging snowstorm.

This time a lot of things went to Goodwill, some to the recycling bins - much neater. The remainder took place over the next 5 days, smooth as catgut.

So now I've actually had a couple of mornings where I could sit in the window seat, a cup of coffee in my hand, Sebastian in my lap, watching the light change on Peak's Island, the traffic build on Congress Street.

Now that WiFi is up it's going to be really perfect.

My first loads of laundry are finishing up - I still don't know where I'm going to put it all now that it's not crammed into trash bags for the quick trip around the corner from my old place.

Still, it's a nice problem to have - and now that I actually have two whole days off in a row - a row! - I might be able to get things done and online.

So now I have a full-time job at the Orchard, a new place where I actually save money while writing a bigger check and a score to write for a play.

Not a bad place to start in the middle of.