There are some people I know that have lived in the same house all their lives – I have not. I have moved ten times in the course of my life and with each move, tried to make the house I lived in a home. Whether I lived with my mom, myself – or with someone else, I have always tried to arrange either the entire house or some of it to my liking. Each time, I have been very meticulous in making sure that the placed I called home was a place I would look forward to coming home to. A place where I could feel relaxed and comfortable in surroundings that were arranged the way I wanted.

Sandy and I have been living in our new apartment for a little over three months now, and I am proud to say that no matter where I have lived in my life and how much attention and effort I spent in trying to make the former places I lived in as much like home as possible – I have never felt more at home in my entire life then I do now.

From the moment we moved in, I knew I would be happy here. Forget the fact that the apartment is great by itself, it’s the way we arranged it that made the difference. Sandy’s excellent taste and décor abilities combined with my detail-oriented organizational skills have turned an empty apartment into a place that makes me smile whenever I enter it.

The best part about this place is that it has all the best components from each of the places I have lived. I have lived in apartments that have had a terrace, and extra bedroom that could be used for an office, an area that can be utilized for a bar, an eat in kitchen, plenty of closet space – and a fantastic landlord. This place takes each of those components and combines them with the one thing that was missing from each of places I lived – the perfect person to share a home with.

Granted, there are some instances where our tastes have clashed. For example, she is candles, curtains and plants – and I’m bar signs, inflatable chairs and wrestling and South Park posters – but through compromise, understanding and love, our tastes have blended as naturally and wonderfully as our love has – and both make feel just as comfortable.

So for the first time in my life, I can truly say that I am home – and mean it.