I googled it. The average move takes 6 months and 2 weeks. I kept that in mind to give myself patience with all the boxes and adjustments to a new town and new way of life.  Right on time, at six months, we had unpacked. I didn’t need GPS as much to get to places. Common meals seem common place.

I must confess that not all the boxes are gone, just moved up to the attic.  To be honest, downsizing wasn’t as easy to do as it’s cut out to be. Of course, many in the cohousing world want to protect the Earth and live more simply but getting rid of stuff and saying goodbye to the comforts of a garage right outside your kitchen door is a process much like grief.  So in full transparency, I got the attic finished faster than I originally planned. Some of it has to do with the fact that my college freshman came home for over a month (his school is on trimesters). Not only was he grumpy about not having any friends in this new town; he is not bought into cohousing and has no desire to get to know anyone here, but being crammed 2 teens and one 10 year old (they all have birthdays in December) into a two bedroom wasn’t his style.  My idea of having him, as well as future guests, on the futon couch in the living room didn’t fit the teen need for privacy (and guests can always stay at the common house’s guest rooms). So, we called the carpenter and finished the attic. My teen got to sleep there first. It was cold but with a space heater and packing up the futon cushion daily for the next bunch of workers, he managed. By the time he went back to school, I could move in. Suddenly the house seemed more home and enough space for all of us.

So, not all boxes are unpacked – many are in my new closets in the attic.  But I figure I get another 6 months and two weeks.