Company

When you live here, you get lots of company. Which I love. It has been key to my mental health since moving away from the city. In truth, I moved here knowing a total of three people who lived within 15 miles. Three is not a lot, especially coming from New York where I had established myself socially and was surrounded by new and old friends on a daily basis. I've learned how much I love being by myself much of the time, but I also realize that all that alone time makes me cherish the time I have when folks come up for a visit.

It's safe to say that I get excited for company. There's a prep to it. As much as I would like you all to think that I live a "company-ready" life, that is not the case. That's mostly because I am lazy and easily distractible. And since I am being honest, I still get a thrill from knowing that I don't have to clean up. See, my mother was one of those folks who maintained an

unbelievably clean house.

I'm talking about permanant vacuum lines in the carpets, needless to say, I have yet to move out of the rebellion phase. Aside from cleaning up the place, I also like to bake up a little something to snack on and there's grocery shopping to do and making sure the guest room isn't too covered in cat hair.

But the extra effort is

usually well worth it. It results in me getting "filled up." I get a chance to reconnect with good friends, enjoy cocktails on the porch, eat lobster by the sea, go bowling, mini-golfing, outlet shopping, swim in the local pond, visit the nearest creamery...

basically, I get to be a tourist in my own home.