It takes a while to feel settled. Yes, this seems obvious. But after what seemed like a never-ending 90-day close and the marathon process of buying a condo, our light at the end of the tunnel was the celebratory feeling we were sure we’d experience when we moved in. Nope. Not at first. The first night in our new home just felt, quite simply, like a lot to do. Boxes everywhere to unpack, all kinds of appliances and flooring we now owned and were in charge of fixing should anything go wrong, a new neighborhood to search out the closest pizza place. Many wise people advised that it takes time to feel settled, and they were right. So don’t mistake first-night exhaustion for big-picture fears about making the wrong decision. Live in the space. See how it feels. Decide where you want things. But first, buy flowers and clear at least one room of boxes. — Alison Bowen, Chicago Tribune reporter