![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-A4Y6iEY98eM\/T-3y3Pwt8wI\/AAAAAAAAHlU\/xMWogXRgg5U\/s816\/colorvision.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I haven’t blogged for more than five weeks. \u00a0(UPDATE: \u00a0I found some photos from some events in those weeks and have made some new entries and back-dated them since writing this post) It isn’t because nothing has happened. \u00a0On the contrary, a whole ton of stuff has happened, but that’s partially why I haven’t had time to talk about it. \u00a0I used to hint at things a few months ago and now some of that can be revealed.<\/p>\n
I have perfect color vision!<\/p>\n
No, that’s not it actually. \u00a0Although it is true, I have bigger news to share than that.<\/p>\n
At the end of May Sam and I bought a property in the Hollywood Hills. \u00a0Yes, THAT<\/a> hollywood hills, but, no, not one of THOSE<\/a> houses. \u00a0It’s actually this<\/a>. \u00a0 Our first choice was West LA, but we could only afford small 1 bedroom places with problems (no AC… or 3rd floor with no elevator…or no view… or only 550 square feet… or no parking… take your pick) over there, so when we found a 1,000 square foot 2 bedroom with a big patio (about 300 square feet) facing the trees behind the Hollywood Reservoir we pounced. \u00a0Sort of. \u00a0More on that later.<\/p>\n Memorial Day weekend we rented a truck on Saturday morning and moved all of our stuff in one day. \u00a0It was possibly the hardest move I’ve ever made physically. \u00a0Maybe we should have called friends to help us, but we both hate to impose on people.<\/p>\n Did I sell my condo in the valley? \u00a0No, I didn’t try to find anyone that would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars over current market value. \u00a0Short sale? \u00a0I’ll keep my great credit, thank you. \u00a0For now I’ve been able to hand it off to a rental management company, but that doesn’t come without pitfalls as well. \u00a0It looks like I may never “break even” on the place, and (as always) tenants always find something that needs fixing. \u00a0This week it’s the AC in the 90+ degree valley heat.<\/p>\n But it’s worth it. \u00a0I never felt at home in my own home for the past five years. \u00a0Most people (in middle-class America) have no idea what that even means. \u00a0 Now I’m living where I want and with who I want. \u00a0 Oh, and while it’s approaching three digits outside back in the valley, at the new place we haven’t had to turn on the AC yet.<\/p>\n There is a cost though, as we’re both finding out. \u00a0The condo we purchased was “flipped” and although it was “fixed” the “fixing” was very half-assed. \u00a0Beyond that there is a water problem on our back patio that we have to fix (it’s become tipped and drains water back against our stucco, which could lead to many potential obvious future problems). \u00a0We’ve worked out a deal with our HOA to split part of the fix, but the little things on this “move-in ready” condo are starting to rack up into the thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n But, when it’s done we’ll be in a place we’re both at least marginally content to live in for a long time, and at a price point (although we had to struggle through six counter-offers from the seller) that will leave us in a position to pocket something if we ever sell.<\/p>\n Beyond that there’s a psychological problem I’m struggling with. \u00a0I won’t get into my career woes on a public stage like this, but it mirrors my artistic malaise. \u00a0Last year I was improving, but then everything stopped. \u00a0I haven’t painted anything, or perhaps I should say finished anything, since we can back from Thailand last August. \u00a0We’re leaving for Thailand again in about four weeks. \u00a0I haven’t exhibited in that time and we haven’t gone to the art walk either. \u00a0I get open ended (non-theme) art requests from the old gallery I used to show in. \u00a0I’d take them up on it, but I haven’t even made anything to exhibit in a year. \u00a0Before the move I put a lot of my paintings up on etsy<\/a>, and kept lowering the prices week after week. \u00a0 I got on a lot of “favorites” lists of other users, but not a single purchase, even when I dropped the prices down to under $100 for a 4’x2′ piece (I sold paintings with those dimensions in INCHES for more than that at the gallery downtown). \u00a0Needless to say, that experience wasn’t confidence building, nor encouraging to keep painting.<\/p>\n I haven’t written anything in my “novel” in the last few months either. \u00a0I’d probably forget I ever even started it if Sam wouldn’t bring it up when we meet people. \u00a0I know that’s her way of subtly encouraging me to keep going.<\/p>\n I’m not really a “soul” kind of person, but there’s something in there that kind of feels dead when I go too long without doing something creative. \u00a0 We’ve got an “office” room in our condo and my easel is already set up. \u00a0Sam leaves for a two week (work) trip to China this weekend, and if I haven’t been able to do something creative within those weeks (which includes a holiday from work) I might as well give up hope.<\/p>\n Some of our friends are literally winning awards for their accomplishments in their field. \u00a0I’m very happy for them, but very disappointed in myself at the same time. \u00a0I don’t even know what field I could even be trying to compete in. \u00a0Maybe everyone feels like this, but most people probably didn’t take until they were 31 to find a comfortable Hobbit Hole to live in with someone that loves them and can make it easier to forgive yourself for not doing more. \u00a0As nice as that is to finally have I worry about getting complacent and comfortably numb to the larger creative vision I used to have.<\/p>\n At the very least I plan on taking a bunch of photographs of the new place and sharing them on here, so look for that probably early next week…. as long as I’m not lured away into being a zombie in front of our tv.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I haven’t blogged for more than five weeks. \u00a0(UPDATE: \u00a0I found some photos from some events in those weeks and have made some new entries and back-dated them since writing this post) It isn’t because nothing has happened. \u00a0On the contrary, a whole ton of stuff has happened, but that’s partially why I haven’t had 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