Moving

I don't think I've mentioned this on the blog, but we are moving this weekend. Not far, just up the hill and to the West End of town. But, moving still. The owners of our flat decided early in the fall to sell the flat and so we were given notice that we'd eventually need to move. We decided to start looking in September and if the right flat came up, we'd go for it. Well, a flat did come up that fit many of our needs/wants and so we decided to act on it. And, so we are now moving from our dear flat in Dean Village.

I probably haven't said anything about it because I am just so sad to be moving from this particular flat. I love Dean Village (hello charm and beauty!) and I love this flat. I like to think of myself as adaptable and I don't usually get attached to places and things (I mean, I have moved a fair number of times by this point and can't ever remember being too worked up over it). Although, this is an unsolicited change (I did not ask for this--in fact, I imagined spending our entire time in Edinburgh in this flat) and I do know that I don't usually have immediate openness to unsolicited changes.

The most picturesque place I have ever lived!

But, really, it's more than that. This has been our first home in Edinburgh and in many ways it the first home that is ours (Joe moved into my St. Louis apartment for the first year we were married). This charming little place has been our sanctuary through the joys--and trials--of expatriating, making new friends, starting new studies, new work, developing our relatively new marriage, and--well--just life. This sweet place has hosted our first visitors from the states, new friends for dinners, farewell parties, cook-outs, game nights, and holidays. It's been filled with laughter, fellowship, quiet, conversation, some tears, and lots of fun. It's really just been home. Which is a blessing seeing as we are so far from "home" right now.

Home

We've actually moved everything out today, but I am insisting on spending one last night here. I just really don't want to leave.

I'll post about the move (read: adventure) and the new place once I've grieved this one and settled into the new one. In the meantime, tell me about the place that's most been home to you and what made it so.