Rambling Rambling Apartment Planning & Future

The weather here is mildly insane. It's great.

I am feeling to settled and peaceful... it's almost a shame I'm leaving England in a little over a month. BUT I must, I must, as staying the full year would not only horribly upset some people back home, but would also severely disable my "three years, two degrees, and study abroad" plan. And honestly, as much as I love school and value it immensely... I could have dropped out of high school to pursue what I want to professionally. I still want a PhD, however, so I'll have to figure that out. Also, med school and law school are tantalizingly tempting... but completely irrelevant. Perhaps someday. Anyway, point is, I logistically cannot stay here. BUT I can go back, finish school, and return here. I do not intend on a static solely-US domestic situation.

I would also like to officially share for the first time my intention, upon my having the money for it, to rent a cottage in Ireland, by myself, for at least a month. Do do nothing in but breathe, walk, and write. As remote as possible. In (preferably Western) Ireland.

I'm also going to Mongolia. But then again I'm planning on going most everywhere (literally. A kid from Serbia the other day thought I was kidding. He said, "Even Serbia?!" I said "yes"), so I won't get into that.

At any rate, I'm ballooning off-topic over here, and the topic was.... um.... hmmm.... let's see... Ah yes, you may not see the connection here, but all that above is leading to: my apartment.

As much as I wholly adore with every ounce of myself being here, I can't help but horribly miss California in a lot of ways. Including Santa Barbara. Primarily Santa Barbara, actually. I've loved it deeply for almost ten years now, and still do. Plus, though England (and especially London-- phwoar) is so utterly, intoxicatingly fantastic, I can't allow myself to really settle here. Much the same as summer when I could not really settle in Santa Barbara because I was leaving for England... but when I return, the prodigal debutante, I get to settle in for at least a year and a half. Which is sizable enough for me to create the best apartment I could hope for. Given my current (and sizable) budget limitations, of course.

I've been planning this, and my outifts at home, ever seen I got here. It's the most exciting part of my future I can try to foresee at the moment. Besides going to Paris, which I am afraid will wholly outshine even London, and I won't ever want to leave. We'll see. Back to point: looking for a one bedroom in downtown Santa Barbara, within about five blocks of the Transit centre, preferably between Carrillo, no farther than Arrellaga, bordered by State and Bath. This is the area I usually park in, and I like it as it feels more secure than the other side of state, and it's close to Peet's, which honestly is a huge reason I'm moving downtown. Plus, a few blocks extra walk to Urban and Natural Cafe isn't going to hurt anyone. :)

So that's the locale. In addition, I'm searching for (besides one bedroom), ideally, off-street parking, full kitchen, second storey... and I wouldn't mind (these are out there!) wood floors, on-site laundry, a fireplace/patio/balcony (interchangeable haha), and in a vintage building. Or at least a space with the potential for character... not too much, though, as I intend to make my habitation a chameleon.

My mother, who is much more of a saint than I've been giving her credit for my whole life (which is saying something, as I give her a lot of credit for that), has also proposed a Queen bed. As if being alone in a one bedroom in Santa Barbara weren't enough, I get a bed big enough that my feet won't fall over the end? Beautiful. You see, the idea is that she and my dad and whoever can come visit as use my home as a vacation space. Which is fine. More than fine, as I adore visitors, especially ones at least double my age. You have no idea how much I miss real adults. That is arguably the worst part of college...

Anyway, I plan on indulging my entertaining streak not only for these fine and lovely parental figures and their chums, but also my own darling peers. I have many delightful plans up my sleeve. Some more eccentric than others. One of my current favourite proposals is a Harold & Maude Party. Costumes required: boy, old woman, or mock-suicide victim. We'll see what else I can add to that. Unfortunately, as it is downtown and not I.V. whatever I do will be anything but raucous. Wait... I'd say that's a good thing. Small, intimate sorts of eclectic gatherings.

As for the decor... final plans pend on the space and how much drabness I'll have to compensate for, but I'm going to thoroughly consume every scrap of my mother's Verandas over Christmas break (what I'm there for anyway). This is part of the reason I want wood floors. INFINITELY classier than rental-carpet. But we'll see. I'm vair le specific, n'est-ce pas my friends?

The post important article to be found, after a sheep-skin rug, is a dining table. If I could express my love of cooking... but I can't, so I won't try. I want a sizable dining table. Preferably quirky vintage mid-century modern. Or, and I doubt I could fine this, Baroque. I am going to have seasonal centerpieces. It is going to be great.

I am also going to sew (clothes! but that's another story) my own tablecloth, napkins, probably whatever curtains I need, possibly (OK, PROBABLY) a quilt for my bed (not patchwork! ugh), and in general whatever else comes up that I can make myself. As for art... I want to paint some myself, at least more modern pieces whose techniques I am dying to experiment with. But lots of other art as well, certainly. Like I said, depends on what the space needs.

Shoes will be taken off on arrival.

I also want to scrounge about for vintage silver flatware. I intend on an IKEA run, of course, but I do want a collection of quality vintage dishes, plates, glasses, silverware, etc.

If there are facilities (i.e. patio, yard, balcony) I want to grow things. Firstly herbs like rosemary & basil, but if room and time allows also flowers and perhaps food. I doubt I'll find space for that though, which saddens me.

I am considering a fish. But then I'll have to feed it, and I want to travel a lot more... and what would I do then? We'll see. Besides I read an article that the 'carbon footprint' of a goldfish is comparably to having another phone. Not sure that would stop me. I'll plant a tree...

There is a huge list of what I intend on doing when I return. You see, last year felt like a time to get settled into the 'OMG I don't live at home' mind-set, and the past six months have been 'barely any work, just sleeping in and adventuring'. So come January... I have to actually do things. And since being in the UK, the old over-achieving self is back. Hello, high school. But better. And more. I've been rather guilted into it by myself... I mean, I have such aspirations, and while I have full confidence in myself to fulfill my dreams, I suppose I need to start working on that. I want to. I need to. I will... I'm going to go to LA a lot more (assuming I get more bagpiping gigs, which I will, because I am actually going to try. I literally cannot afford to flounce around and avoid it any longer), and I want to start auditioning for things. Legit things. I live so close, why not at least start? I am also joining Rotaract because I NEED to be involved in a the community. I'm horribly depleted from lack of charitable acts. Not to mention the goal to make more films, produce more writing, art, etc. creatively... Like I said, making money is rather important. I would also like an internship. Making a Reel Loud, too. Or two, actually. That's another story (ha!). Traveling far more. Exercising more (honestly, the rec cen and I will know each other this year). Playing volleyball, anyone interested in intramural? Working more on the clubs I am already in... of course, school. I'm on a strict plan from here on out academically to I can fulfill my scheduled-timing, but I enjoy school, and as it is currently priority #1, it will be taken care of. Hmm hmm... I want to spend more time in Montecito. I am going to put more effort into my appearance. It's hit me that given what I want to do in life, even if on principle I don't agree with it, I need to put some effort in and look more presentable than I currently do. Shame I don't want to be a librarian... I could totally pull that off. ;)

Oh dear, this is so long... I just wanted to put my apartment thoughts in writing, and off this has gone to the land of arduously lengthy... I do apologize. I could continue rambling on all this nonsense, but I have a fashion magazine to return to. And humous.

Stay in school kiddies, and be kind to your web-footed friends.