
Living in between.
My new apartment and a new feeling of being "here."
For the past four months I’ve felt like I’ve been living in between. Living neither here nor there.
At the end of October, after over three years of living nomadically, I “finished” my travels, flew back to Chicago on a one-way ticket, and accepted a full-time job.

Making plans for decorating my new apartment…
But, in the four months since, I haven’t really been “here.” Not yet. I was living in a friend’s spare bedroom. I was living off of a designated shelf in the cupboard, a designated shelf in the fridge, a borrowed bed, a borrowed pillow, a borrowed towel. All of my things were still in storage at my mom’s. I couldn’t join a gym because I had no idea what part of the city I’d end up in (and, let’s face it, the only way you’d get me to a gym is if it’s convenient to home). I couldn’t shop for furniture because I didn’t know if I’d end up in a one bedroom or a studio, if I could splurge on a queen bed or would have to make due with a twin. I’d been wearing the same four dresses and one pair of boots everyday, still living out of a backpack.
I was neither here nor there. I was neither traveling nor settled.
I was living in between.
And it was depressing.
Don’t get me wrong: I had a great living situation and am grateful to Katie for letting me stay with her (and her cats!). And I’ve actually loved working. I love my job. I love my company. I love my coworkers.
But I felt off and had little motivation for anything other then Netflix.
The whole situation made me feel like I was back in my twenties. In that state where I didn’t know what I wanted, what I was doing. When I didn’t travel and didn’t move and lived with my parents for way too long. When I cried way too often and did nothing but work, watch TV, and sleep.
But, at least, this time, it was only temporary.
I hope.
This weekend I started moving into my new apartment. It’s a one bedroom in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago.
I’m living close to bars, restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, a gym, and public transportation.
It’s an old apartment, it’s a little crumbly, but I like it. There’s a lot of space. There are a lot of windows that bring in a lot of light. There are pink tiles in the bathroom. There are lots of closets waiting to be filled.
It’s a blank canvas that I’m excited to decorate just how I want.
I’ve already brought over everything I had with me. I’ve already bought some new things and made entirely too many trips to Target. I’ve even already ordered my perfect teal couch (though it will take at least 8 weeks to be delivered…)
I’m hoping that all of this brings me out of my funk. I’m hoping that I’ll finally start feeling settled because I will be settled. I’m hoping that I stop feeling like I’m living in between and more like I’m just living. That I’m here.
I’m hoping.
Jen P
March 4, 2015at11:07 amSo which couch did you end up ordering?
Val Bromann
March 4, 2015at11:30 amYou’ll see when I get it… 😉
Sid
March 4, 2015at12:38 pmThere’s something…i dunno…inflating about having your own space to shape as you see fit.
Val Bromann
March 4, 2015at1:31 pmThis will be the first time I’ve lived alone, and I’ve always loved decorating. It’s so thrilling to me to be able to decorate a whole place just how I want to!
Erin
March 4, 2015at12:21 pmYou sold me on teal couch! 🙂 Can’t wait to see more pics — adorable place! I have to start moving into a new condo here in Belize because the one I’m in is selling and I’m dreading it. I hate moving, but reading your post may put me in a better mood about it. It’s sad though as most of my awesome furniture and all my Disney artwork are all back in CA in long term storage…it makes me wonder about moving back to the US at some point. :/
Val Bromann
March 4, 2015at1:30 pmI hate the packing everything up and looking for a new place part of moving. Luckily, all my stuff at my mom’s is already in boxes so I just get the fun part of unpacking and decorating now! 🙂 All my stuff has been in storage for over 3.5 years – I don’t know what I’d do if I moved abroad!
Priya
March 4, 2015at5:55 pmI LOVE Lincoln Square! It’s one of my faves. Good on you for finally finding a place of your own!
Val Bromann
May 28, 2015at4:12 pmThank you! It’s such a great area – we should hang out there more 😉
Andy
March 5, 2015at2:08 amWhat a neat looking place. Glad you are finally getting to find a place that you can have for yourself. Three years is a long time to live out of a backpack.
As you know we are moving the end of the month to Berlin. It is a bit overwhelming too. All of the arrangements and packing and unpacking and signing up of things. And yet there is a anticipation to it that is cool. I’m looking forward to finially getting large canvas prints of some of out favorite travel pics for the wall. I’m looking forward (oddly) to having curtains and definitely to the bigger kitchen. Everything comes with good things and unpleasant things.
And although we haven’t been dealing with it for 3 years, there is definitely that sense of finally settling in. We have been traveling through places since last September staying only a month at a time. And now even though we are technically home, it is still temporary for about that same month before moving. Every move made it feel like we were waiting. Waiting until we got to the next place for something to be different/better/whatever. I’m tired of waiting (like I’m sure you were) and just hope to settle into the new place.
Once again, congrats on the place. Hope you get your couch soon.
Val Bromann
May 28, 2015at4:14 pmThanks Andy! Hope you guys are finally starting to feel settled too!
Lindsay
March 10, 2015at8:17 amReally lovely to meet you. I stumbled upon your blog after googling “things I’d like to learn” and I found your life list.
Look forward to getting to know you better. 🙂
xo
Lindsay
Val Bromann
May 28, 2015at4:13 pmThank you Lindsay! Looking forward to getting to know you better too! 🙂