I should be an expert when it comes to moving.

Since I left home and started college I have lived in two dorms, five different houses, three apartments, a row house, and even a tent for a few months.

I lived in big cities where the action was non-stop, but exhausting and in small towns where I didn’t feel like I was running an endless race.

Mist covered mountains surrounded some places and what once seemed like never-ending pine forests and tobacco fields surrounded others.

Each place held a beauty and mystery of its own. Many of my former roommates are still good friends of mine, but I have lost touched with others, especially the guy who stole my credit card and ran up an outrageous phone bill.

I lived with people from cities like Chicago and Boston, lesser know places like Youngsville and exotic places like Jamaica and Hawaii.

While moving somewhere new is always exciting, it can also be difficult. Once I was officially hired as the new reporter for the News-Herald the task of finding a new place to live started. Fortunately for me everyone at the News-Herald was very helpful and the process of finding a place to live was much easier than I anticipated.

After looking at several places in the area and talking to a few people, I settled on a place close to work, mainly because of the convenience and the proximity to the newspaper.

After suffering through several years of painful commutes while I lived in the Washington, DC area, I promised myself I would live close to my job whenever possible. I knew I wouldn’t have to face too many brutal traffic jams or mornings filled with wild rushes of crazed people fighting their way onto a packed subway train, but I love the idea of leaving my house at 7:55 and making it to work before 8:00.

Now that I have moved my impressive collection of antique furniture into my new place, I am faced with my next task, meeting my neighbors. I am never really sure the best way to do this. Should I just wait and let it happen &uot;naturally&uot; or should I seek them out and run the risk of bothering someone at an inconvenient time. I am struggling with the two options, so any advice is welcomed.

Life in my new place was going great until Tuesday when I came home and I put my key in the door. The key fit, but after several tries the key wouldn’t turn. I tried and I tried and finally it turned a little to right, but I needed it to turn to the left. Finally, after at least thirty minutes, several deep breaths and an incredible show of self-restraint, I managed to unlock the door. Why or how it finally worked remains a mystery.

I’m quite sure a few people will read this story and think to themselves &uot;that new reporter doesn’t sound too bright,&uot; but anyone who has done battle with an unfriendly doorknob understands.

Maybe I should start climbing through the window.