A Transient Life

[teaberryblue]

For those of you who have known me for a while, you may have realized that I’ve moved at least once a year since 2004.

In 2004, I moved twice, once across state lines. In 2005, I moved three times, all three times across state lines. In 2006, I had a sort of mini-move that lasted all of a few weeks, then back, then another move. In 2007-2009, I moved once a year.

I really like my current apartment, and I was hoping and expecting to stay here longer, but my landlord tried to raise my rent $200/month with less than six weeks’ notice to the end of term (and yes, for those who might ask, this is legal, if obnoxious).

Sick of horrible Manhattan landlords, and suspecting that Manhattan brokers deliberately put people in apartments that will turn out to be short term so they can get another fee the next year, I decided that maybe it was time to move to Queens.

I started looking in Astoria, but Brendan, my boss and friend, suggested the neighborhood where he and Rina live, and gave me the number of the brokerage they used when they found the home they currently live in.

I made an appointment, and went out looking at apartments. It’s about a half-hour from Manhattan, but with that you get bigger spaces, cheaper rents AND cheaper groceries. I liked the first place I saw, and though I looked at some others (one so big I had no idea what I would do with it), I settled on in quickly.

Let me tell you a few things. My bedroom will be bigger than my current living room. My kitchen will be the size of my bedroom. My bedroom will have more windows than my entire apartment. I look out on a quiet, tree-lined street instead of an airshaft. My electric bill will be included in the cost of the rent.

And for all of this, I will actually be closer to a movie theater and closer to a grocery store than I am now in Manhattan.

Photos on my blog

Mirrored from Antagonia.net.

Comments

[balcarin.livejournal.com]

Oooh your new place looks really nice!

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

I am so freaking excited! It's like having a real place to live. I hope I can stay there for more than one year!

[liret.livejournal.com]

That is pretty! I'm excited for you.

Except now I have to re-learn where you live all over again.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

The subway stops down the block from my apartment, so you only have to learn one street.

[liret.livejournal.com]

Yay! That was considerate of you.

[spiralstairs.livejournal.com]

IT'S GORGEOUS! I think you could fit your current apartment and the last one I visited in this place with room to spare! I'm so glad you found a great place! :D What neighborhood is it?

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Neighborhood will be mentioned elsewhere!

But yeah, it's kind of awesome. You can come visit!

[abhor.livejournal.com]

Yay for big apartments! Yours looks gorgeous too. The only bad thing about more space is accumulating more stuff to move next time. Still, it's nice to have breathing room, isn't it?

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

It's the George Carlin routine!

[abhor.livejournal.com]

Eee, exactly!

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. That looks stunning. Here's hoping you get to stay there for many, many happy years.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

I hope so, too! I would like to eventually buy something, but I want to see if I like this neighborhood enough to commit to a purchase.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, in my lease I have to get rugs, unfortunately.

But we can roll them back.

And my mom is a George Carlin fan. So while he's probably not someone I would have gravitated to on my own, I got introduced young.

[lunylucy.livejournal.com]

Dude, very awesome. I am happy for you!

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I am excited.

[tamaraland.livejournal.com]

Congrats! It feels weird to voluntarily flee Manhattan doesn't it?

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Yes! Especially after the dream I had last night. But I am excited about getting a bike and being able to ride it, finally.

[veinstangled.livejournal.com]

Wow, how lovely! I have had to move an awful lot too. We are looking for a new place right now. I hope I can upgrade like you did!

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Eek! It is so frustrating! I am just so glad I saved my boxes last time.

[alephz.livejournal.com]

Man, that looks like some pretty sweet digs! Woo!

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

I am excited for it!

[gairid.livejournal.com]

Congrats! I like Queens---not to far out by train and as you say, larger space for less $$. (My daughter lives in Ridgewood).

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice!

And yeah, I think it's going to be a fair compromise. The big deal for me is the part where I have to wake up a half-hour earlier, since I'm a nightbird by nature, but I'll get used to it. And saving almost $500 a month is going to be a boon.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I am, too.

[f4l.livejournal.com]

Looks fab, darlin! Think of the commute as a chance to indulge in new music/podcasts :D

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, in my case, half the commute is aboveground, so I will be checking all my email before I get home!

[guingel.livejournal.com]

YEAH OUTER BOROUGHS! :D

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Hee! I am a little wistful about leaving the island, but excited nonetheless.

The next thing I need to do is figure out where I can get good paneer. I've found all the other groceries I like.

[guingel.livejournal.com]

The outer boroughs are meant to be lived in, I think it'll work out well. :) And parts of Queens are very melting pot-y so hopefully you'll be able to find everything you need!

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've got the address of a place in Jackson Heights, so I will check it out; it's like four subway stops away.

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

That looks excellent and sounds like a great move to make!

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

It's gorgeous! Enjoy!

[katieupsidedown.livejournal.com]

Cuuute! I bet it's in a real building too. :( Someday, cute cities!! *shakes fist*

[norda.livejournal.com]

I am happy you have found a good place, Tea. I like Queens very much... my grandmother lived there, as well as friends from college.

[smammers.livejournal.com]

Ooh, it looks nice. So you gets a bigger apartment for cheaper than your old one? Sounds like a good deal to me!

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

I'm originally from Queens :) There are certainly benefits to being right OUTSIDE of Manhattan (budgetary perhaps being the greatest). Good luck in the new apartment!

[i-smell-apples.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sounds - and looks! - amazing :D

[henpecked.livejournal.com]

See, when I left Brooklyn for Manhattan I missed Brooklyn terribly. All my reading time disappeared! :D

Apartment looks great! I love love love the tile in the bathroom!

(And now I'll probably spend an hour on YouTube watching my favorite Carlin bits ;D)

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Aw!

And yeah, I am kind of stoked about the 1920s bathroom.

[blythe025.livejournal.com]

That sounds fantastic! :)

[dootsie.livejournal.com]

It looks beautiful! The walls and floor in the (I think) living room are absolutely fantastic. And that bathroom tile--love! I'm so excited that you've found something that works for your budget and offers such wonderful space.

[connie]

It looks really nice! And you can always hang out here if you feel a hankering to spend some time in the old neighborhood. ;)

[justatailor.livejournal.com]

This place looks fantastic! This is actually the first year since 2004 that I won't be uprooting my life, so I definitely understand the annoyance there. Outer Boroughs FTW!

[shinyredtype.livejournal.com]

Your new place looks gorgeous! I am very excited for you!!

<3