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So it has been just over two years since I moved to the new Casa Azahar, which is officially the 5th Casa Azahar in my 26 years living in Sevilla (if you count moving across the hall from number 2 to number 3). I spent 1 year in Casa 1, 18 years in Casas 2-3, 5 years in Casa 4 and now 2 years in Casa 5. I have fond memories of all my homes here, even though Casa 4 ended on a sour note with the landlady. But each time I changed homes it was for somewhere better.
At first I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the present Casa Azahar. It was smaller than the previous two, so some serious downsizing was required, which in retrospect was probably a good thing (though in the end I also had to buy some new furniture). And I knew the cats would miss having stairs to play on. But it was attractive, had good light, and was in a good location, so I decided to go for it.
And now, two years on, I can’t imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else. I’ve never felt so at home before and every day I feel delighted and grateful to have this comfy-cosy place to live in. I really love it here, crazy downstairs neighbour notwithstanding, and okay, the kitchen could do with some love. Though the BEST LANDLORD EVER did replace the old cooker with an induction one and install the oven I brought over from the previous place. He also installed all the light fixtures I’d bought after moving in, and quickly replaced the A/C unit when it died. In fact, he has always been amazing about everything. So I really hope I can continue living here for a long time to come.
Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to make a present day photo collage just like the one I made after I first viewed the apartment. This time with furniture and… cats! (you may have to zoom in to spot them)
Where was the best place you’ve lived?
casa azahar 
The first place I lived on my own was a storefront on Ossington Ave here in Toronto. I converted it into two painting studios with a makeshift shared kitchen in between and a slightly scary bathroom down in the basement. It was a very cool place – West Queen West area before it gentrified. Later I lived in another painting studio in the old casket factory at Niagara and Tecumseth. It was illegal to live there but, well….everybody did, and when building inspections people made an appointment to come in and inspect, they miraculously never found beds or stoves. It was a very interesting community of artists and musicians but it had its problems, not the least of which were the junkies selling drugs next door. These days that whole neighbourhood is filled with condos, and I heard recently the Wheat Sheaf, which was our local pub, is closing (for renos, but it will never be what was there) After Tuffy P and I got hitched, we bought a tiny house, 750 sq feet, in Little Portugal. We had a lovely garden and made lots of friends in the neighbourhood. I even learned the Portuguese dance tunes on button accordion. We had 8 lovely years in that place, but eventually we began to crave more space, and that’s how we found our way out to 27th Street, a neighbourhood we quickly fell in love with. We have one of the best birding places in Toronto just down the street, the lake, places to bike and a village-like community with loads of trees. It’s perfect for gardening and an amazing place for our dogs too! We’ve been here a decade now and still love it.
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What a wonderful stroll down your memory lane, really paints a picture. I just included places I’ve lived in Sevilla here. I’ve lived on my own since I was 16, and I’m 62 1/2 now, so I’m not sure if I’d even remember all the places I’ve lived. Though possibly when you were down around Queen St West I was living up at Yonge & Isabella (and previously in the Danforth). 1982 – 1990ish?
I love what you and Tuffy P have done with 27th Street and can’t imagine you guys, and your beautiful brood, anywhere else. I honestly think that your neighbourhood has benefitted from you guys living there. You really get involved and help make things better. Not something that’s as easy to do in the Big City.
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Right where I am now, too. It’s full of bits and people always expect to turn a corner and find themselves in Narnia or the like. And the yard is enormous, which insulates me from the rest of the world even if I am on a main road corner, plus after two decades of me here it’s full of shaggy, happy, shady vegetation. There’s a nook for every cat. I wish the kitchen were bigger — you literally can’t have two people working at the counter, which barely deserves the name. But there’s no way to expand it without losing something else good. We work it out.
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I know! There’s always something. Here my kitchen could do with an update and I have the crazy neighbour. In the previous place I couldn’t sleep because of the all night bars, and before that I had NO AIRCON.
I actually had to buy a cabinet to put just outside my kitchen (in the hallway) for extra storage. It’s simple and doesn’t look “kitcheny” so it works. But there is no way two people could fit in my kitchen. I say let CE do all the work while you sit in the living room with a chilled glass of sherry. 🙂
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No way has that been 2 years! Wow.
I looked at the various Casa Az photos before I read your post, and when I looked at the ones from your last place I thought “I miss seeing the cats’ stair game videos” 😀
I love where I live now. It’s an ex-council house so quite roomy, probably more roomy than I need for just me and the dog. My husband & I bought it in 2003 so I’ve been here 16 years and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. My neighbours are lovely, it’s a decent neighbourhood, there are several places to walk my aging mutt close to home so he doesn’t get tired before we even hit grass!
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Way! I know, I can hardly believe it myself. It feels both like I moved in yesterday and have lived here forever. I also still feel badly I never got round to making you a video of the previous Casa Az… but okay, you got the cat vids.
Your place sounds perfect for you (and the mutt!). After 16 years it really is hard to imagine living anywhere else .When I got kicked out of Casa Az 2 & 3 after 18 years at first it felt like a disaster, but then the next place was so much better. And now number 5 feels even better than that – like the place I never want to leave. Fingers crossed.
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