Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Someone Might Call This Cozy

We have now spent nearly one month in our little, economical hotel room.  We have not kept each other awake — very often. We have not yet begun to climb the walls.  And we have definitely not gotten on each other's nerves.  That last statement is an absolute fact.  Amazing and completely true.  After nearly 30 years together, we can spend almost every waking (and non-waking) hour in one another's company and still really like each other.  This is especially surprising given the fact that Jerry, although possessing brilliant organizational management skills, is a slob, and I am a borderline anal-retentive neat freak.

EVERYTHING IN EASY REACH... BUT USUALLY UNDER SOMETHING ELSE.

We spent five hours at IKEA today.  First, we went to their "Picking Service" with our furniture list (a spreadsheet created by Jerry, the spreadsheet king).  For a fee, they are going through the warehouse for us and loading up everything we've selected. Next, we went to the cashier and paid for everything, including the fee for the picking service.  We then headed over to "Transport and Assembly." For a fee, they will assemble everything.  And for another fee, it will all be delivered later this week (no boxes or packaging left behind).  We made the arrangements and paid the fees.

I HAD MY OWN WALK-IN CLOSET.  NOW I SHARE 4 SHELVES AND 6 HANGERS.

We then had a very good and very unsettling lunch in IKEA's cafeteria restaurant surrounded by bickering adults and screaming children.  If all that — the shopping, the waiting in lines, the shelling out of a boatload of money, the screaming kids, and the bickering adults — hadn't been enough to give us both headaches and indigestion, we then headed back into the store with two shopping carts and we selected sheets, pillows, comforters, blankets, dishes, everyday wine glasses, coffee mugs, and lamps.  Our intention was to hop in a cab with all those goods and take them back to the apartment — which still has no electricity and, therefore, no air conditioning.  We're still awaiting word on when our own stuff shipped from California will be delivered.

LUNCH.  SO MUCH LESS NOISY AND CHAOTIC IN THIS PHOTO.

The most stressful part of the day — other than eating lunch in the middle of an out-of-control daycare center — was buying the linens for the bedroom.  What weight duvet? Why are there so many different sizes of sheets and pillows? Where are the pillow cases for the size pillow we just selected?  Where are the pillows that fit the pillow cases that come with this set?  Is that a top sheet or a bottom sheet?  Does this set come with a duvet cover or a covered duvet?  Should we just buy separates?  What are the measurements of the flat sheet that goes with this fitted sheet?

JERRY'S "OFFICE" AND THE "KITCHEN" AND THE "DEN" AND THE "BEDROOM."

We were so exhausted by the time we finished shopping for linens and then lamps that we could no longer cope with the thought of hauling everything into a taxi and then into a hot apartment.  So we arranged — for another fee — to have those two cartloads delivered tomorrow morning.  We then took a taxi back to the hotel.  As we passed the other shoppers — screaming kids, bickering adults — Jerry commented that if our relationship could survive this, it could survive anything.  But, I already knew that.

MY "OFFICE" (ACTUALLY MY CHARGING STATION).  MY OFFICE IS MY LAP!


19 comments:

  1. Hey, you're making progress. BTW, you don't want to move in without A/C. Trust me on this one. Also, Marsea just told me that Spanish movils ring in the US (no problem), so my bank here can send (call) me my code and I can get my money transferred to the US when I leave. I wish someone would set up a website with all the rules (and keep them up to date).

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  2. Ron: A website with all the rules. That would be so nice! And, don't worry, no way we're in without air conditioning. And of course there's the matter of lights, computing, refrigerator, stove, hot water...

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  3. 30 years should be fully acknowledged here...I might add! Congrats!

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  4. Oy Vey! I'm exhausted. I'm not sure I ever want to move.

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  5. You both will probably SLEEP for a week as soon as you get settled into your apartment! What a day(s) you have been having!
    Yes, you guys had to be together for 30 years to survive all this! Nice job!
    What will you ever do with all the room, once you get it? lol

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  6. That hotel would drive me f#8cking nuts=good on ya

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  7. I love this post, a true testiment to love...BRAVO to you both, you inspire :)

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  8. 30 years ~ congratulations. I totally ditto David's comment.

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  9. >After nearly 30 years together, we can spend almost every waking (and non-waking) hour in one another's company and still really like each other.<

    That's the true gift right there.
    No fees. No packing. No assembly. No directions.

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  10. What is it about IKEA that brings out the cranky in people. It happens to us in there. And, like you, we've spent the last 8 years of our 28 years together 24/7 (I won't say it's always smooth, but we haven't killed each other).

    But IKEA makes me crazy. I feel manipulated in there. They have a knack for taking a humongous warehouse of a store and making you feel claustrophobic. And crowds make me jumpy, too. Fortunately, the closest IKEA to us is about an hour away, so we don't go very often. I'm getting nervous just thinking about it.

    I'm glad you survived and am looking forward to seeing how it all gets put together chez vous. How do you say chez vous in Spanish?

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  11. Surviving IKEA is right. I don't go any more for that very reason.
    And you're spot on about the true test of a relationship. It's when you can spend all day, every day together and still want to do it the next day. We've been together 34 years and started the 24/7 thing in 2002 and we were nervous about it. But it works for us... no blood yet!
    You have a relationship to cherish, whether your in Seville or Santa Fe... well done!
    Wait, don't start thinking Santa Fe otherwise we may see another move.

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  12. Sophie's Ron: Thanks!

    FDeF: And I'd moved again in a heartbeat; it's definitely a sickness. Fortunately, I have no interest in leaving Sevilla for a good long time.

    Jim: We were talking last night about how HUGE that apartment is going to feel.

    John: Well, we do have our moments!

    David: Thanks, as always!

    Nubian: And ditto back at you!

    Bob: It's amazing what can be built without a users manual.

    Walt the Fourth: We've both commented on that unfortunate claustrophobic IKEA warehouse design. It's like walking through a tunnel maze. To their credit, every person on staff was kind, charming, friendly, pleasant, competent, efficient. But it really is an assault on the senses. (Simply... mi casa?)

    Craig: Santa Fe is definitely not on the horizon... but I'm not saying "no" to another move (in 30 years). Congratulations on your 34 years! Jerry and I had our first lesson in how well we could do together when we had the hotel, lived and worked together 24/7, and enjoyed it. As Walt would say: "Quelle surprise!"

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  13. After all these years, you still can't tell the difference between a Top and a Bottom? Really?
    Your Friend, m.

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  14. Mark: I think it's called "versatile."

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  15. I recently went shopping at IKEA for some housewares, but my visit was mild and tame compared to yours. I need a nap after reading about it, and a glass of wine, don't mind if I do. Good Bye, keep up the good work.

    scott
    www.travelwithscott.com

    P.S.
    Is that a cheap Van Gogh knock off over your bed?

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  16. Scott: I would insist the Van Gogh over the bed was an original, except that I've seen two other rooms here with the same one. And what do you mean cheap knock off? I'm sure they all must be copies from the original and done by the artist himself.

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  17. Mitch,
    Now I know why you choose that room. LOL Who doesn't like a Van Gogh over their bed? I would.

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  18. That's why I only shop at IKEA when they've just opened @ 10. Most are still eating their 1 euro breakfast in the "madhouse".

    Ikea pillows only fit into their own brand pillow cases. Wash the sheets and cases before you put them on the bed, any additions* will be washed out. *Appret

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  19. Scott:
    And, surprisingly nice watercolors throughout the hotel. Two reasons to stay here (oh, and it's cheap) .

    Peter:
    Now if we could only get ourselves out of bed early enough to get there at 10! Thanks for the info on the linens. And don't worry I wash everything before use.

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