A notice was taped to our door this past Friday, informing us that all fire escape areas and common hallways were to be free by Monday of any personal belongings, including shoes, bicycles, furniture, clothing, plants, boxes, etc.
Gulp. We share a mini-hallway with our next door neighbor leading out to the fire escape, and lately, it’s been in the back of my mind to clean it up, as it initially housed a few boxes of pots, potting soil, and knick-knacks, and then my husband’s bicycle.
I wasn’t sure what to think when I saw the notice. At first I thought we were the only ones in trouble, and my newly pregnant, highly hormonal mind (another tidbit I haven’t told everyone about yet) was a bit stressed out to manage cleaning this out right as our in-laws were set to arrive this weekend.
We were able to dispose of most of the unused clutter tonight, though. The bike will be a creative challenge to house in our apartment, because I really don’t want it to be in full-view, or in reach of our curious 16 month-old. It’s hard not to think wistfully at times how much much much more square footage we could get if we lived in the Midwest for the rent we pay now, and maybe even have a garage to house our bike.
Despite these feelings, though, I try to be thankful for the reminders and limitations we face as we have to manage our “stuff.” It forces us to get rid of or sell what we really don’t need, and I know that these challenges will continue to come as our family and all of the trappings it comes with expand.
Have you ever had a limitation that turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
8 Comments
January 25, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Congratulations! I thought you might be expecting when you mentioned that your food spending had gone up. Ours sure did too for the first trimester, but it’s getting back to normal now. At least we did better this time than when I was pregnant with my first – I was a little better at anticipating the sudden “Must eat NOW!” feeling.
January 26, 2009 at 3:52 am
Congratulations!
January 26, 2009 at 7:38 am
Congratulations! And we have stored my hubby’s bike in our bedroom closet.
Blessings,
Sommer
January 26, 2009 at 10:02 am
Congratulations on your new addition!!!!
Is there any way you can hang the bike….
maybe even in the ceiling of a closet??
Pam, South Bend
January 26, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Thanks for all the congratulations! Yes, pregnancy is one big reason why our food bill went haywire this month. I feel like my ability to make clear decisions has been compromised, at least in the last few weeks, so it’s hard to make a clear list of what we need and don’t need. And “needs” suddenly become things like, oh, say, eating a jar of dill pickles in three days.
I wish there were a way to fit the bike in one of our closets, but right now our closets are pretty full, and I’ve tried to pare down things to what we absolutely need. Oh well, I’m sure a solution will present itself soon.
January 26, 2009 at 10:45 pm
WOW!
What great news. Congratulations.
You guys are the best!
Blessings!
January 27, 2009 at 7:55 am
Woo hoo!! Congrats on the pregnancy! I am excited for you. We have our bikes hanging from the ceiling with these hook things my hubby found. Not sure if that is an option for you.
January 27, 2009 at 8:37 am
Oh boy, do I ever know how those back hallways can accumulate stuff. In my last apartment (where I lived with three boys!) the tiny space between the kitchen and the deck was a dumping ground for every homeless object in the apartment.
We hung the bikes in the dining room–though eventually it just sort of became “the bike room”…
Have a great day, and congratulations!