Up or Down?

To move up or down – that was the question.

Our 14^th story has come to a technical, if not a literal,  end.  We gave up our flat last December to move (temporarily) back to Northern Ireland.  Early September, we finally returned home to Kiev.  A strange feeling, coming home but  being homeless.  The flat was such a safe, happy place and we had some good times there – but a one bedroom apartment is small for parents with two children and wanting to host people in their home.  We knew when we left that we would need to give it up.

We could have chosen anywhere in the city, and a good many people wanted us to move north or west, but we wanted to stay put; in part because the region is incredibly convenient.  Supermarkets, markets, electronic markets – we could find almost everything we needed without having to veer too far out of our way. But the main reason we chose to stay is that we’ve made friends here in the region.

We didn't have too many choices owing to the new visa regulations that require some paperwork from the landlords: no one wanted crazy foreigners about!   In the end, it was down to the place we choose and a 4 room on the 8^th floor.  The four room was closer to the location that we wanted to be but was $200 more per month.  It was, in my opinion – not Alister’s – nicely decorated, maybe too nice.  She was willing to let us have the cat – but we worried just how much a scratch would cost to repair on a wall or something else.  While the 4 room gave Alister a definite office – the living room was small and didn’t feel like a great place for gathering and socializing.  We finally found a 2 bedroom apartment on the 19^th floor.  

We went with the 3 room because even though it is a room or a balcony short (I’m sure Alister will be constantly a bit frustrated with us interfering in his space as his office is also the kid's bedroom) it had this big room that can just be used for any and every type of gathering.  And while it is furnished, it is only furnished to a point and the landlord is willing to let us make our own mark on it.  Now it will be up to Alister and I to see if we can decide on a mark.