New house

When Gal and I first moved into our new house (about a month ago), I thought there would be no issues whatsoever.  We were in our own place, could do whatever we liked to it, could repair whatever needed repaired, and could, in general, live there.

Well, the first day finally came where Gal's family had returned home from helping us move and Gal had her first shift back in the ER.  I was alone in the house with the pets for a few hours...and suddenly everything felt wrong.  I went from room to room looking around trying to find what was bothering me.  The kitchen was fine, nothing was burning.  The living room was fine (no TV or internet at this point).  All of the pets were accounted for, but something was wrong.  Then realization hit me.

For the past 24 years I have lived in close contact with people.  With my parents until college, with my roommates for four years, then with apartment neighbors for two years after Gal and I were married.  There was always someone talking, someone making dinner, someone next door moving around, someone running their dryer/dishwasher/water nearby.  For the first time in 24 years, I was totally alone in my home (pets excluded).  It was totally silent.  We have neighboring houses close to us, but we can't hear what goes on inside of them.  No one else was in our house to make noise.  Even the AC unit had switched off, leaving me with nothing else to occupy me but the echoes of my mind.  I felt totally isolated. 

Now I know why solitary confinement F's prisoners up.  I turned on some music.

-Guy