A traditional Hawaiian greeting, Welcome here,  come in.  The house is yours, is analogous to the traditional Mexican greeting, mi casa es su casa.

I’ve been working hard the past two weeks to tidy the house after my roommate left, and make it feel mine.  It’s not that it wasn’t comfy or “home”.  We *shared* the space fairly well, all things considered for two semi-loners. *laughing*  One of the limitations here is space in Hawaii (or at least on O’ahu) is awfully tight.  Much the same as any larger city on the east or west coast, and it’s  expensive as hell.  The other factor was neither of us wanted to make the investment of furnishing a place with no clear decision to stay in Hawaii for more than 6 months at a time.   So furnished it is.  You get what you get.

But all in all, it really was more of a  *mans* space.   There are many reasons for that….the first is that he was here for three months before I moved in,  so the house was set up for a singles mans needs.  My sojourn to this apartment was only supposed to be until I found another place more suited than the apartment I previously occupied across town.  I also know that women, as they settle in even for a short time, tend to leave their fingerprints on *everything*.  I didn’t want to invade his space any more than necessary.  Even if it was a clean and organized space unlike most men I know.  There was incredible graciousness in condensing his stuff so I could have space in and on the dresser as well as bathroom cabinet space.  And….I didn’t want it to appear to be a “couples” place because we weren’t.

The entire apartment (large studio) is 500 square feet divided roughly in half with galley kitchen, workspace (‘puter desk) and living room in one section, and the bedroom with bath in the second section.  I say *section* because most apartments (not condos or townhomes) here have either a 3/4 tall wall or sliding louvered doors separating the main space from the bedroom and bath.  That arrangement requires no building permit.  *grins* At least these actually work so the bedroom door can be “closed” for  mock privacy.

The lanai (porch) on this unit is off the bedroom.  It’s kind of a drag…walking through the bedroom to get to the bathroom, or the bedroom to get outside on the lanai….but that’s just the way it is. The lanai is 5x 8 feet and generally including in the “living” space.

Much of my “stuff” was stowed wherever we could make space in the undersized closets and under the bed.  Now I have some room to spread out and take my simple belongings to make a home.  What I brought with me were little slices of my former lives.  A pair of gloves from  my Great Aunt Margaret, a professional dancer.  My Great grandmothers vase.  A perfume bottle belonging to another Great Aunt-my godmother.  The leather and wood treasure box a close friend bought me for Christmas last year.  You know…important *girly* memorabilia stuff.  Two button hooks that belonged to Nana.  A tin from the ’30’s houses drawing supplies and pencils and another with smaller sewing items.  A few handmade baskets, and an arrowhead a friend chipped from the mahogany obsidian I collected in Oregon one year. Of course I have my bigger sewing basket filled with antique lace and silk threads that I’ll probably never use.  But they provide comfort.  A quilt I’ve been working on for the past 10 years.  My Grandmother’s breadbox-I remember that from when I was a child.  A tatted lace tablecloth made by Great Aunt Maude.  And countless pieces of sea vomit…coral, shells, worn glass and various size fishing floats from my sunrise beach jaunts.  My dresser is an alter of sorts that needs some work. He left the Peace banner and Shiva for me.  I have a few plants too.  Orchids.  They are cheap as dirt here.

I hid the TV in the closet. I don’t watch the darn thing and it took up too much space.

Now it feels a little bit more like *me*.   I thought I would share some pictures.  Perhaps all this will give you a more complete sense of who I am and what I work with on a daily basis.  *s*  It’s not perfect by any means.  But it is comfortable. I could live in a more upscale place at a higher price of course. I could rent a room.  But that would require a long lease.  It’s  month to month here now and I’m into being as mobile as possible these days.

Don’t mind the walls…they are mostly bare save for the orange pictures…..but I’m working on it.   The carpet could use cleaning too.  Soon, soon.  Yep it’s an eclectic blend of my mish mash stuff and renters deluxe.    Besides pictures on the walls I need one more thing….a full sized nude mannequin for conversational value and dress up fun. *lol*  Really, I need a mannequin.  Haven’t decided if it should be male or female.

the kitchen is behind the chair and it is a mess from the reorg, lol.