Per Librarylady's request :) Moving Update

 From librarylady on my other thread:  How about another thread to tell us about the "settling in" part of your move. I think it was brave to just pull up stakes and move across the country with no friends or family waiting at the other end. I recall you have a job waiting for you, so that meant some instant contacts, but how is the rest going? Good neighbors? Good immediate neighborhood?

Im still settling in.  Unfortunately my job has been so busy that I only get a few hours on the weekend to do anything so I have to decide on chores vs fun.  This weekend chores win out because my sister and mom are going to visit either next weekend or the weekend after.  I haven't been to see the ocean in about 2 weeks.  Just no time.  I know the sounds crazy but by the time Im at my break from work, by the time I eat dinner, check the mail, take the trash out and feed/water the cats, it's time to go back.  I work from home and the work is never ending.  We have had a lot of staff quit recently and those of us who remain have to carry the extra.  This week I had four appointments to attend on top of my already 70 files I have to manage.  It can't all be done.  I am the only nurse from my company in the San Diego area.  We have three in the LA area but everyone is so busy and they have families.  We never get together unless its a work function.  

I am supposed to finish my scuba certification in November, but only if they can get me into a pool refresher.  That was supposed to happen this week but I haven't heard from them so probably not.  My bed frame was supposed to be here by now and that has been lost.  Nobody knows where it is.  I ended up renting a garage here in the complex and I am setting up a painting studio for my paint pouring, which should free up room in the apartment and not make it feel so tight.  Unfortunately I need to hire people to move three pieces down my stairs because they are big and awkward and while they are on wheels, stairs are another beast.  Im a little bitter about it, but if I want to start being able to paint, then I need to just suck it up and call someone.  

I have found the best pizza place, a primary care physician, a massage place, figured out my favorite grocery store and gas station (not that I need it much thank goodness with the price of gas here).  I did find out there is a farmers market every Thursday on the pier.  I am hoping to check that out in the next week or so.  Twice a year Carlsbad is host to the country's largest street faire.  They have it every May and November.  So I am setting aside a Sunday to wander that  I am trying to make changes in my work but I fear that the only way to lower stress and the hours is to get a new job.  Im so tired of job hunting. 

I have met a few neighbors.  Everyone here is friendly.  They smile and wave and say hi.  Several times a couple guys have held the laundry door open or helped me take stuff to recycle/trash.  My downstairs neighbor, diagonal from my apartment is a pastor and a solar system sales person.  He likes to talk.  I try to avoid him lol.  He's very nice but very very chatty.  He has a wife and three kids in an apartment about my size.  They are always on the move.  I met an older gentleman and his dog Flea.  He had cut his hand and couldn't find a bandaid in his car.  So I fixed him up and got to pet Flea.  Pastor neighbor told me there are two other nurses in the complex.  I really like my apartment complex, but it's a lot more people than I am used to.  I didn't want a TV in my bedroom when I moved and then ended up getting one because sometimes my living room is just too open.  We leave doors and windows open for air flow.  The security door provides some privacy but not enough.  My next door neighbors are constantly coming and going and I always feel like they are always looking in.  They aren't but because I am at the top of the stairs you can't help it.  Everyone loves my two cats.  They like to sit at the door and watch the neighbors lol.  I did find a really neat meditation garden with amazing views of the ocean.  Its free, just have to find parking, which is a much bigger issue here than one would think.  I need to get my camera charged up, cleaned up and start taking it with me on weekends.  

I need to get to the water more often.  I need to start figuring out a way to balance more so I don't end up in the ER.  While they are chalking it up to dehydration, I also believe stress plays a huge role in my heath right now. Im a 5 min walk from the ocean, there should be no excuse, yet...it's been two weeks.  I have decided that to start, three days a week I will quit at 5pm and go walk the walking path that is on the beach.  I will still have to go back to work at 8pm, but I need to get out and move.  Three days should be doable.