Simple but not Empty...the Joy of Living Out of a Couple of Suitcases

For a while now I have wanted to share some pictures of the home we are living in and will greatly miss when we depart in less than three weeks!  There is a lot to be said for the simple life, not that ours necessarily feels really simple here.  There is a lot to do everyday but its a different list than I have at home and there is a beauty in its simplicity that I really enjoy (when I remember to.)  As I Cassie and I walked home from a quick trip to the nearest grocery store a few days ago (about 1/4 mile away,) I found myself completely enjoying the moment.  Here I was, with my last teenage daughter, WALKING home from the grocery store with a few bags in our hands.  I think its safe to say that I won't get her to walk to the grocery store when we get home.  It takes some time to do everything by foot or public transportation, but it's a kind of built in pause in life that I don't have at home.  I find that I have to force myself to walk the 'Spanish way...SLOWLY.  We often find ourselves weaving in and out of people, viewing our walk only as a means to an end.  For the Spaniards, the walk from one location to another is just that, a walk.  They will get there when they get there, which is usually a little late.  Perhaps the best Spanish word I will take home is tranquila (be calm).  They use it a lot.  In our hurried American culture a statement to 'calm down' is rarely reacted to with anything resembling calmness, but here it is a way of life.  Be calm.  Walk slowly.  Live simply.

We came with few possessions and there is a lot of freedom in that I must say.  Four carry-on suitcases for the four of us and two additional suitcases hold all that we have lived on for three months, at least of our personal possessions.  I am admittedly tired of wearing the same clothes over and over and at times miss some of the other things I left behind, but not really.  There is less to take care of, less to worry about. 

Our home here is simple as well, which doesn't mean it's not a comfortable, enjoyable place to live.  We will miss so many things about it.  So here is my brief tour:

The little complex we live in.  What we would call a Town House they call a Chalet.  It sounds so much prettier, doesn't it?

 You have to buzz to get through the gate.  We have grown to love the sound of the buzz that almost always brings one of our wonderful students to visit.

 The front door.  Don't you love the doorknob in the middle of the door?  It doesn't turn and isn't particularly useful but almost all Spanish doors have this type of doorknob.  Actually getting locked out is an ever present worry.  The door automatically locks when you shut it (at least partially) and it only unlocks with a key.  This means you have to leave the key in the door at night if you want to feel safe that you can make a quick exit. in the event of an emergency  However, if there is a key in the door (on the inside) you can't turn the lock to unlock the door from the outside.  Put simply...we are careful when we are all leaving the house together. :)

 Looking back toward the gate from the front door.

The side of the house going to the backyard.

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The really cute backyard that we really don't use much while we are here because it's a little cold. 

 Looking over our fence to the community pool that taunts us with how much fun it must be to live here during the summer months (except the accompanying heat that would invite you to the pool)

The entry looking back toward the front door.

 To the left the half bath that is really only used by the students.

 To the right the small but bright kitchen. We rarely eat in here as only two people can sit. 

 Note that the kitchen is also a laundry room (with a tiny washer) and utility room (the water heater is there just above the counter)

 There is really enough counter and cupboard space for what we have in the way of appliances and dishes but wouldn't come close to holding what I have at home.

At the end of the entry is the family room.  Note the folding chairs.  Since only 7 or 8 can squish on the couches, when the students are all here couch sitters are reticent to give up their spots for fear of losing their comfortable spot to and ending up on one of those flimsy folding chairs. 

The Chalet has four levels.  Below the main level is one room that houses a bunch of stuff left behind by previous directors and a drier (that only sort of works).  The main level (which in Spain is the 0 floor) has the kitchen and living area.  The next level up (in Spain level 1; we would call it the 2nd floor)  has  four bedrooms and 2 small bathrooms.  

Master bedroom (with balcony to backyard)

 Master bath.  The other bathroom is identical except for the shower curtain. :)

 The guest bedroom (too bad we haven't had many guests!)  Kara and Hayley used this room and Taylor and Emily will when they arrive TOMORROW!  In the meantime, it has functioned as Stan's office (there is a small desk to the left you can't see)

 Landon's room.  I love having the kids just across the hall.

 Cassie's room next to his.  I will definitely miss being so close.

 The hall between the rooms.  I thought about taking down the laundry drying rack and towels, but since this is usually how it looks decided to keep it up. :)

This is the top floor.  This is actually a pool table and last time we were here the kids used it A LOT.  Unfortunately the balls and sticks have disappeared.  We missed not playing this time round.  It has been used for study groups and committee meetings by the students though.

 Looking down the stairs from the top level.  Yes, we climb a lot of stairs every day!

It's a wonderful little house 

and has become our home for a simpler life.