The past few months have been a wonderful chapter of my life, a coming home of sorts. I’m living on my own for the first time, and I really enjoy it. Even in college, I always had housemates, so this is the first time I’m truly on my own. I’ve been appreciating the independence, freedom, and peace. I’m still in the city, so while I have my own space, I’m not alone. My friends are nearby, my family is close, and over time I’ve gotten to know my neighbors and the surrounding community. As I’ve settled into this new chapter, I’ve started to fall into a new rhythm of life.
Fitness
At the start of the year, I set a goal to get to know my local parks and running routes. Running has always been a big part of my identity, and I wasn’t sure how that would translate to a new (hilly) neighborhood. Over time, I’ve found my go-to routes, and I’ve been more intentional about planning ahead if I know I’ll be in another part of town where I can squeeze in a (less hilly) run. Between that and having a dedicated space for home workouts, I’m proud of the way I’ve adapted and stayed consistent with my training.
Community
As I started exploring the neighborhood, I couldn’t help but notice how friendly people are. Most offer a simple “Hi” or “Good morning” as you walk by. It sounds small, but I wasn’t used to that in my previous neighborhood. Over time, those small moments turned into familiar faces, and eventually into invitations to neighborhood events. Tuesday mornings are for volunteering at the Community Garden, and Thursday nights are for the weekly potluck. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by how vibrant and close-knit this community is. It’s been the warmest welcome I could’ve hoped for, and it’s made this new chapter feel even more meant to be.
Home
Alongside all of this, I’ve been settling into the more mundane parts of home life — cooking, cleaning, and general upkeep. These are new to me as the sole homemaker, and being the engineer at heart that I am, I built a system! I now have daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and even annual rhythms to keep my home in order. I’m also grateful for the small things that make life more convenient, like having a parking spot, being able to charge my car at home, and having a backyard. One of my favorite parts has been hosting more. I’ve started inviting friends over, filling the space with people, conversation, and shared meals.
Homestead
I’m still taking classes at CCSF, and this semester I picked up Pilates and Horticulture, which has led me to a new hobby… plants! My mom has always had a green thumb, and I figured that when the time came, I might too. Years ago, I imagined my dream life as an urban homestead — growing my own food (as much as I could), baking bread, and being self-sufficient in the ways a modern household allows. This new venture into gardening feels like a meaningful step towards that vision, and I’m excited for the bountiful harvests to come!
In the evenings, with the longer days, I’ll watch the sun set over the mountains. In those moments, I feel a deep sense of calm and belonging. Sometimes I think of my younger 23-year-old self, who made the decision to invest in this home. I’m grateful for her, because she created something I now get to step into. Something that is so right for where I am in life. With each day, I feel more grounded in this home, in this community, and in the life I’m building.
Thank you for reading and for being a part of my journey! ♡
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