not at home

I am a stranger in a strange land.

At least, a stranger in my own house.

I moved into the new place in mid-December.  Within two days I was on my way to Oregon for a two-week Christmas stay -- and we all know what happened there.  I was in Oregon for four weeks.

I then returned to the house for three weeks, and took off for Los Angeles for a week.

By my calculations, I have spent more time in The States since I moved in than I have spent in the house.

So, let me introduce my home to you -- and, perhaps, to myself.

You saw a hint of it when I was trying to decide where I should live from December to April: a moving experience.  But I need to show you a bit more of the place.


Here are the basics.  The house is a duplex with twin two-bedroom apartments stacked atop of each other.  Walking from one apartment to the other is it own déjà vu experience.


As you know, the house is not on the beach.  It sits on the laguna.  And that gives it a far different feel than a beach house.  The laguna provides a serenity that can come only from the presence of still water.


Even though the apartments are twins, they are fraternal twins -- or, at least, a special type of fraternal twins.  Identical inside -- completely different on the outside.


Mexico is an outdoor country.  The upstairs apartment has a roof garden.  The downstairs apartment -- my apartment -- has a garden.


I was thinking about the best way to introduce you to the house.  Here is my suggestion.

• A tour of the roof terrace will give you an idea of my neighborhood.
  
• A tour of my garden will show you where I relax.
  
• A tour of my apartment will let you know what the place looks like -- whether I am there or not.

It is time I met my own living arrangements -- before it is time for me to head north on my six-month sabbatical.