Losing my mind, finding a place

Moving is hard. No matter how much organizing happens while packing, things don't end up in the right places in the new house. The rooms in the new house don't match the rooms in the old house, and we still haven't quite figured out where to put everything. We've made the strategic decision to spend a lot of time out of doors while the weather is good (figuring there's plenty of time to unpack the basement boxes when the weather gets cold). But that means we're living with a level of disorganization in the house that doesn't always feel easy. Politica and I are both coming home from work just bone tired, and that makes it hard to do what needs doing around the house--although I should say that Politica has continued to do a prodigious amount of painting.

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Some days, I think that my brain has ended up in a box that we haven't yet unpacked. That's one of the reasons for the bloggy break here: I keep looking at things, thinking "Oh, I could blog about that," and then I can't get the energy to get a thought developed. This too shall pass, yes?

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Things lost, which have to turn up eventually:

• car keys (the second set to each car, packed in a Very Safe Place that is apparently so safe I can't find it to unpack it
  
• a silk screened long sleeved tee I bought Curious Girl at the Gorgeous College Town Farmers' Market, which has to have ended up in some odd place in the house or car
  
• a binder of recipes, which must be in some box in the basement that is not labeled "kitchen" very clearly

Things I miss about my old job:

• office staff. It's taking forever to get the staff search organized here, and there's a heck of a lot I don't know that a good staff person will know (or will know how to find out).
• a hallway full of colleagues. My new space is a little remote, for now.
• good tech support. New U has a somewhat slow process for handling technical questions, although I'm happy to have my new space located right next to the office that handles faculty technology/teaching questions. That will be a great partner for me, and it sure is nice to just bring my laptop over and get help with some things (if not some of the other things the Slow Central IT Office has to handle).
• a computer on my desk. One is coming, but it's not here yet.

Things I like about my new job:

• very cool new renovated space. this is the nicest office I'll ever have, most likely. My chair office had floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls, which was cool, and a stunning view of downtown at night, but this office is all new, freshly painted, with brand new furniture! Very nice.
• recycling. New U is way into environmental issues. We can recycle virtually everything on campus. In fact, here in Germany recycling is mandatory, and the program is so broad and easy. I'm amazed at how much less trash we're producing.
• the view. My office doesn't have a view to speak of, but once I"m outside there are lovely views of lake and mountains.
• the student culture. New U has a much younger student body and they are all busy organizing themselves with lots of public rallies and informational tables and activities. There is something profoundly unnatural about this many same aged people all together, but there's an energy to it that I'm really enjoying.
• Wellness programs. The university wellness programs for staff and faculty are interesting--there's a masseuse who can be scheduled for massages in your office (which you pay for, but sometimes departments schedule her for the day to be available in the building). There's a program that will pay me $15 in credits (at the coop, or a bookstore, or a movie chain) for walking to work or biking to work 3 days a week for 4 weeks. This is a health-minded place.

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I keep thinking to write a post about CG and kindergarten, or the feel of this place, or the feel of the house....but somehow, between the brain-in-the-box and the last stages of unpacking, the prose isn't flowing so well. That will change, too--but apparently, not tonight.