coldThe next morning i headed out to Venlo for a quick cake, then to Düsseldorf for a short walk by the Rhein. I passed out as soon as i got back to Berlin, i was so exhausted. Monday was a write-off. Tuesday i had reserved to move, but that was also the day we had an evening booked with the production team (models, photographers, copywriters, PhotoShop guys etc), so after a tour of their studio and some beers and BBQ with the guys, i just decided i'd have to take the day off to move. And thank God i did too, because Wednesday i spent 6 hours straight walking back and forth from the old apartment to the new apartment to the shops to the new apartment and over and over until i had enough stuff that i could safely make it through Thursday (a public holiday) without freezing or starving to death. Once i got all my shit moved, i went out to my kneipe and had a thoroughly entertaining night, first watching the soccer, then enjoyed a BBQ, a few games of darts, a long chat with a 50-year old who tried to convince me kids were worth it, and then a very drunk game of Skat with a bunch of old Berliners. It was probably the best night i've had at the bar yet. Eclipses my birthday, seeing as i didn't end up shamefully puking somewhere this time. But yeah, i got home slept for a few hours, woke up, handed the key back to my old landlord (who was amazed i had left the place so clean) then went right back to bed, sleeping through the 18 (!) different techno openairs going on in Berlin for Labor Day. Ah well. Tomorrow's another day.
I love my new place. All i have here is a bed with a blow-up mattress, a tiny desk, a tiny wardrobe, a director's chair, a camping chair, a fridge, washing machine and gas stove. That's more than most apartments come with here. I'm in one of the Seitenflügeln (side-wings?) on the 4th floor overlooking the inner courtyard. It's pretty dark because the courtyard is small and i am right at the south side facing east, but the layout is nicer than my other place, and i have real wood floors throughout. The main lobby is covered in graffiti, as are most of the stairwells, but once you get inside my place it's a little island. My neighbors mostly appear to be punks. Well, and young families. The music matches that - no techno blasting out the windows here, just angry guitars. I guess this is more true to the roots of the neighborhood. There are still a bunch of squats up the road and some punk kneipen and stores in the area, and God knows we have enough crusties with their dogs sitting out the front of the grocery store, but they're still outnumbered by the young families and well-to-do singles like me. It's kinda nice to see a little bit of what this area used to be like. Though i never have to fear for being cut at the subway in the middle of the night, so boo-yay gentrification.
I am feeling a bit reluctant to buy stuff for my new place, because i was so happy to finally get rid of all my stuff when i left Canada. Not having stuff has made me feel lighter and freer than ever... And that, in turn, has made me feel saner than i have in pretty much my whole adult life. I am terrified that once i start to settle down i am going to feel trapped and start going off the rails again. But then, if i can manage to lug whatever stuff on foot from the store to my place and up 4 flights of stairs by myself, it can't really be that much. Can it?
