And I don’t necessarily mean it in a cool way…

Photo 127519826 © Chernetskaya | Dreamstime.com

I must admit, I’m not thrilled with the fact I haven’t spent much time by the pool or even made it to the beach yet this summer. In fact, even though the summer weather has officially arrived (and I am thankfully not in the worst of the heat!), I’m not even sure it’s felt like summer yet. Perhaps it’s because I usually associate this time of the year with that easy-livin’, hazy-sunset-with-a-chilled-drink-in-hand kind of vibe. Instead, my fiancé and I have spent the past two months in the process of moving — the very opposite of that sun-kissed, carefree summer I’ve been so ready for. Please don’t misunderstand me, I am ecstatic to make this move, but, oh, what a process!

My fiancé, Nathan, and I were fortunate enough to secure a lease on a house we were excited about that began July 1, whereas our lease at our apartment doesn’t expire until the 31st, giving us an entire month to move. Of course, that also means being in a constant state of moving for a whole month — a very disorienting experience, if I do say. We have been moving boxes and small pieces of furniture bit by bit throughout the month, and now, finally, this weekend we pick up the U-Haul and bring over the furniture.

Since there’s no work without a little play, we squeezed in some time amid packing to see Alicia Keys at Wells Fargo Center two weeks ago when her Keys to the Summer tour stopped in Philly. It was a beautiful experience I was able to share with Nathan and scratch off my bucket list.

I cannot overstate how ready I am to start putting things where they belong and how much I’m looking forward to settling into our new home. I can’t wait to cook our first dinner there and have people over for the first time, and I can’t wait to feel like it’s actually our space.

Most of all, though, I can’t wait to explore! While our new home is not too far away (about 35 minutes from our old apartment), it’s in an area neither Nathan nor I know that well. It is certainly a little nerve-wracking to move into a new place, but it also encourages you to step outside of what’s comfortable and to grow. I’ve grown plenty as I emigrated from the Dominican Republic to New York City and then left behind the bustle of Manhattan and the Bronx for the suburbs of Philadelphia, and I can’t wait to see who I grow into as an official Philadelphian.

I promise to update you on those explorations and all of the delicious food and unique spots we find — we just have to finish this move first!

— Yasser Ogando, advertising & production manager