Portland Oregon, October 18th 2010. Been living in Portland for two weeks starting tomorrow and today is the first day I’ve really felt settled. My training as a tango dancer continued beautifully the moment I arrived in Portland two weeks ago and peaked at an intensity of fifteen hours a day for three days as I balanced moving furniture and studying this incredible dance during one of the biggest transitions of my adult life.

            Dining room table, chairs, couch, coffee table, end table, computer desk, computer chair, kitchen hutch, dresser, lamp. Never before had my list of “must haves” included these things. Settling myself here required it. I left much of my furniture behind in the move and wanted to redefine my space. Doing it within my budget required diligence as I scoured craigslist through thousands of postings looking for just the right piece for just the right price. Some days it seemed impossible but I’m now one bookcase short of everything on my list and I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made, accepting the compromises while simultaneously delighting in my sense of a good bargain.

            A friend today told me “it feels very welcoming in here”. Yes it does. I felt welcomed as I arrived tonight at 12:20am after my 15th consecutive night of dancing. I’m progressing at a joyful pace. One of my mentors, Alex Krebs says this: “your goal as a lead is to make sure when you ask a women to dance, she says yes”. Check.

            Next chapter please.