settling in
I spent part of the past night walking through Teele Square, looking for a convenience store that might be selling juice at near midnight. Most of my past week has been occupied with similar sorts of reconnaissance, pinpointing the nearest dry cleaner, the most convenient pharmacy, the closest source of Guinness. I've been asking questions of my roommates regarding garbage pickup schedules, laundry facilities and other such matters, recalibrating my life for a new house and new neighborhood.
The other day, I was riding out to pickup groceries, and had to spread out my mental map of the local markets, trying to decide which would be the most likely source for good cilantro and which might have the best fish department. I wound up making an unintentional tour of Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, bouncing between spice stores in Inman Square, Asian supermarkets in Allston, and butchers in Davis before picking up everything I wanted, and while I enjoyed the afternoon, I had to file a mental note to locate a closer source for banana leaves and lemongrass.
One would think that after all this time, I'd know Davis and Teele as intimately as Central, Harvard, or the myriad other squares that anchor Cambridge and Somerville's geography, but there's a difference between visiting a neighborhood and living there. I know the restaurants, the coffeeshops, and the used bookstore with the remarkable collection of cookbooks. I don't know where the hardware stores are or which Chinese takeout place has the best price for the lowest grease ratio. Though I'm finding out slowly, and savoring whatever discoveries I can pick up along the way.
The other day, I was riding out to pickup groceries, and had to spread out my mental map of the local markets, trying to decide which would be the most likely source for good cilantro and which might have the best fish department. I wound up making an unintentional tour of Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, bouncing between spice stores in Inman Square, Asian supermarkets in Allston, and butchers in Davis before picking up everything I wanted, and while I enjoyed the afternoon, I had to file a mental note to locate a closer source for banana leaves and lemongrass.
One would think that after all this time, I'd know Davis and Teele as intimately as Central, Harvard, or the myriad other squares that anchor Cambridge and Somerville's geography, but there's a difference between visiting a neighborhood and living there. I know the restaurants, the coffeeshops, and the used bookstore with the remarkable collection of cookbooks. I don't know where the hardware stores are or which Chinese takeout place has the best price for the lowest grease ratio. Though I'm finding out slowly, and savoring whatever discoveries I can pick up along the way.