i have my new (temporary) north carolina driver's license!  going into the DMV brought back weird memories from 2001...of failing driving portion of the driver's license test the first time, crying on the way home, and then going back the next day and passing.  nerves, i tell you!  nerves!  but, ugh - bad memories.

today was different - i only had to pass a written test (which i did - flying colors).  and yo, i'm a registered north carolina democrat now.  woo!

next step: wait 7-10 days to get my physical license in the mail, then take it to the car registration bureau people and change my car's registration to north carolina.  then, friends, i'm official.  (i think.  anything i'm forgetting??)

this afternoon i've been going through all the boxes i moved to north carolina from atlanta and deciding what to move with me to my 109 square feet in new york, and what will stay in north carolina until i move again (prettypleaseletmefindajob) next summer.  the pile to take to new york is very small so far, but i'm not too nervous about that.  if i've learned anything from going to england for the past four summers it's that i can survive on very few physical belongings.  each summer i've taken only a carry on suitcase and a backpack, and i've been able to survive very comfortably for as long as 7 weeks.  the most important belongings - the ones that make all the rest unimportant?  a cell phone and a kindle and a laptop.  we don't need much in order to be happy, and in this consumer-focused society it's so easy to forget that.*

and that, people, is your moment of zen.


*which is not to say that i don't like things.  I LIKE THINGS.  this post is all over the place, but I DON'T CARE.  this weekend my aunt monica brought my grandma's jewelry to the farm and all the granddaughters went through it and picked out a couple things to keep.  i got some good stuff.  i'll show you later.  GET EXCITED.  you better believe i'm taking all my jewelry to new york.  and tons of clothes.  there is a place for these things...