“It's a refreshing thought to literally start over.”
People ask me what I do, now that I am officially without a day job. Well, I made the local library my new office for one thing. I can tell you that I have rediscovered it. I was always a great fan of the library. As a student, I spent many hours in the library working on projects, exams and dissertations. However, since I became a full-time professional, I lost touch with the library dynamics. I am positively surprised that people still go to the library. With the digital means available these days (gosh, don't I sound old here...).
The library is a great place to work. For various reasons. First of all, the library is quiet, with an occasional buzz created by primary school kids coming in. No sounds that will distract a focused individual like myself. In a library, people mind their own business, but will help you out when you need something. For example, just now a clerk rolled in my very own table on wheels to fit me in a spot when all other work spaces were taken during this busy afternoon. Also, I can ask for help when the coffee machine stops working. That brings me to another great perk: a cup of coffee is just 50 cents (in a hipster coffee place, the coffee does come with a biscuit though). Let me continue on with my library promotion campaign. People of all ages visit the library: to get books (go figure), to work on a paper for school, to catch up on the news by reading today's newspaper, to print out some stuff, to attend a training/course or just to meet up with somebody. In other words, the library creates a great community feel. I like it!
Mixed feelings
And no, I don't always feel on top of the world. Mixed feelings creep up on me occasionally. Why do I take on this challenge of finding a new job in another country? Why am I applying for flat shares when I own a perfectly nice, lovely, solo apartment in one of the greatest cities in The Netherlands? Why would I invite a tenant, a complete stranger, into my furnished home with objects I collected over the years and still treasure? Ok, I know why. There is a new adventure waiting for me. New surroundings, new people, new opportunities. That does mean that I need to finish some chapters and that I might even have to burn a few bridges here and there. No guts, no glory!
Clean
One of the chapters I am referring to is cleaning up. Not cleaning as in scrubbing the floor with gloves and detergent. I mean cleaning in means of reducing ones possessions. My house is becoming too small. Or should I say, there is too much stuff. House junk that I neither treasure nor need. It has reached that point where I can't seem to create space anymore. There is stuff I haven’t been able to throw out for reasons I can’t explain. It clutters the mind I feel. My move will help me get rid of unnecessary things. It's a refreshing thought to literally start over. Start with the basics, somewhere new.
Focus
It's odd, this process I am in. Like for example, the order in which I am doing things. At this point, there is no residential accommodation, no specific job in play. Hell, I don't even know when I am moving specifically (disconcerting thought when you think about it). That's why I think it's particularly odd that I am already looking at local hockey clubs in Edinburgh and that I am sending out applications for next season's membership. A season that does not start until September!! And I haven't even properly finished the current Dutch hockey season yet. I guess I am bit ahead of the (hockey) game. On the other hand, this order of activities seems completely normal and feels like the only way TO do it, if you know what I mean. An interesting process all together.
House vs. home
To resume the topic of prioritizing, you would think that finding a job has highest priority now. It is indeed very important and I am very much working on this, don't get me wrong, but in my case as my preferred move date approaches, it becomes more urgent to secure a place to live (which logically will have great influence on the job search as it is easier to apply for jobs locally). And thus, I am in the midst of a flat search. The timing is challenging with the previously mentioned Fringe Festival coming up, but hard work goes a long way.
With full dedication, I am contacting letting agencies, private landlords, possible flatmates and what not. Specific flat renting websites have been added to my browser favourites and local Facebook groups have proved to be very useful. I check the flat ads on a daily basis (hourly is more like it, day and night). First come, first serve most of the time, so I have to be on the ball!
I am now a few weeks in and flat hunting from a distance isn't impossible. I was able to get a lot of stuff done without being actually present (I have my local friends to thank for that). That said, just last night I realised that I need to make a physical appearance if I want to get the best flat possible. To find myself a new home. It is better to meet people and view flats in person. So, in a split second I decided to take up on a short visit to Edinburgh for flat viewing purposes only. I need to be there within a week and I need to make sure flat viewing appointments are lined up. Although I started my search looking for a solo one bedroom or two bedrooms flat, I changed my mind. Both socially and financially, I think now it is more interesting to flatshare. Especially now. To get my bearings. If the worst comes to worst, I can change my residential path later, if need be.
I can always count on Easyjet for regular flights from Amsterdam and so, at 1 o'clock on a regular Tuesday night, I booked a flight to Edinburgh, yet again. The third one this year and many bookings will follow. It will be an ultra-short visit to view flats, shake hands with landlords and/or flatmates and look people in the eye when discussing something as intimate as flatsharing might be considered. This way, I also get a grasp of the area, which as you can imagine is important to consider. Hopefully, I can decide on the actual flat soon. It will be nice to have the final move-in date in place (or move-out of my country date more so). The 'chicken and the egg' of things can be quite draining. Especially, if you are organised by nature.
FoMO
But there should be room for fun as well. Recently, I was made aware of the fact that I am suffering from a disease called FoMO. Not just me, I think it's a family illness. It stands for Fear of Missing Out. Wikipedia references a few pretty frightening definitions, including this one:
“Fear of missing out is a fear of regret, which may lead to a compulsive concern that one might miss an opportunity for social interaction, a novel experience, profitable investment or other satisfying events."
It happens to be very true. I hate to miss out on 'gezelligheid'. Friends and family will agree here. I am always keen on combining events and things as much as I can. Therefore, despite the various uncertainties in life at the moment, I might go on a short three-day trip with my dad to visit family in Austria next month (not to confuse with Australia here...). Just before my move to Scotland. Why? Because I can. And because I think I should 😊