room with a view

I'm digging the new pad.

It feels more like a home, and less like a one-bedroom storage space (which was basically what we were living in). We've got new kitchen countertops and cabinets, a new stove, an extra bedroom, two extra closets and a nice-sized balcony for enjoying the gorgeous Phoenix nights.

But the best part, the part that has me giddy with delight, is the view. Our balcony faces south, and we've got an unobstructed view of the park across the street. It's fun to watch people walking their dogs, kids riding their bikes and children swinging on the monkey bars. South Mountain looms in the distance, providing a jagged frame for an idyllic setting.

And at night, straight ahead between two clusters of trees, are the twinkling lights of downtown, rising tall above the flat expanse. It's beautiful.

Life is funny. We moved for strictly utilitarian reasons - but it turns out that my favorite thing about the new apartment is purely aesthetic and romantic.

That said, I'm not giving up my newfound cabinet space. No way.