To move or not to move?
Apr. 20th, 2004 04:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
carynb
Yeah, that's the question.
I've been saying for months that, come my lease anniversary on July 1st, I'll be moving out of my current apartment and back downtown. Part of this was based on the fact that I was expecting to get a fairly hefty rent increase this year, since we've got new management and they've been doing all sorts of upgrades. But, I haven't received any notice of increase yet, so it doesn't look like I'll be hit with even the regular 2% one.
I do want to live in a different neighborhood. I miss the energy of living downtown. I miss being able to leave my apartment and being no more than a 10 minute walk from 15 different restaurants. This "living in the 'burbs, have to drive to everything" thing I've got going on now sucks.
But... I hate moving. Hate, hate, hate it. Even with the thought that this time, I'd have enough money (my entire tax refund, actually) to hire people to do the packing & moving, the very thought of gearing up for a move exhausts me.
If I'm going to move the first of July, I have to decide on this in the next week. If I give the 60 days notice, I'll have to get my ass in gear and start looking for a new place. That's one good thing about giving notice - it leaves me with no choice but to do the work.
There are good things about where I'm living now. It's close to work, maintenance problems have all been dealt with quickly, it's air-conditioned, and the upgrades have really improved the look of the building. There's lots of visitor parking, which is kinda crucial since I have an out-of-town boyfriend.
But...I think I'd be happier living downtown, once the move was over it. The longer drive to work didn't bother me when I was doing it daily a few years a go, and that (and the parking issue) are the only real disadvantages I see. I'll probably have to pay for two parking spots, since the chances of M finding street parking for an F-150 on a regular basis downtown are slim to nil.
Ugh. I know I should just accept the fact that I'm going to go through the pain of moving and just do it, but the closer the date for handing in my notice gets, the more ambivalent I feel about the whole thing.
I've been saying for months that, come my lease anniversary on July 1st, I'll be moving out of my current apartment and back downtown. Part of this was based on the fact that I was expecting to get a fairly hefty rent increase this year, since we've got new management and they've been doing all sorts of upgrades. But, I haven't received any notice of increase yet, so it doesn't look like I'll be hit with even the regular 2% one.
I do want to live in a different neighborhood. I miss the energy of living downtown. I miss being able to leave my apartment and being no more than a 10 minute walk from 15 different restaurants. This "living in the 'burbs, have to drive to everything" thing I've got going on now sucks.
But... I hate moving. Hate, hate, hate it. Even with the thought that this time, I'd have enough money (my entire tax refund, actually) to hire people to do the packing & moving, the very thought of gearing up for a move exhausts me.
If I'm going to move the first of July, I have to decide on this in the next week. If I give the 60 days notice, I'll have to get my ass in gear and start looking for a new place. That's one good thing about giving notice - it leaves me with no choice but to do the work.
There are good things about where I'm living now. It's close to work, maintenance problems have all been dealt with quickly, it's air-conditioned, and the upgrades have really improved the look of the building. There's lots of visitor parking, which is kinda crucial since I have an out-of-town boyfriend.
But...I think I'd be happier living downtown, once the move was over it. The longer drive to work didn't bother me when I was doing it daily a few years a go, and that (and the parking issue) are the only real disadvantages I see. I'll probably have to pay for two parking spots, since the chances of M finding street parking for an F-150 on a regular basis downtown are slim to nil.
Ugh. I know I should just accept the fact that I'm going to go through the pain of moving and just do it, but the closer the date for handing in my notice gets, the more ambivalent I feel about the whole thing.
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no subject
Date: 2004-04-20 02:39 pm (UTC)And hey, you could end up living in the same neighbourhood we wind up in. We certainly won't be getting a place anywhere near your current residence :-)
Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 09:25 am (UTC)You could also go condo (resale, since new likely has more than a 60 day lead time), finances willing. Though maybe you are looking for a shorter term commitment?
You may also be able to go month-to-month with your current landlord.
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 11:26 am (UTC)I've done the general neighbourhood/price searching already - a 2 bedroom at Y&E costs about the same as what i'm paying now, and if I move over near the Danforth, it'll be even cheaper. So, rent really isn't the issue. Oh, and I'm already month-to-month, by the way. I was just expecting a large increase on this anniversary, and that was going to be part of my incentive for moving.
Buying just doesn't seem to be an option. I keep looking, but paying $250K for 600 square feet is just insane. If I wanted to buy, I'd have to do it out of town, and that just defeats the whole purpose of moving.
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 12:10 pm (UTC)BTW How many other people let you know about the Prince concert announcement?
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 12:13 pm (UTC)And to keep this comment slightly on topic, I'll mention that my beloved Steve emailed Caryn about Prince. I'm betting he wasn't the only one either.
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 01:34 pm (UTC)In any case, we (Kimberley & Christopher) will see you at TT18.
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 01:57 pm (UTC)Well, hi! Nice to hear from you.
*g*
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 01:09 pm (UTC)I want to say 4, but I can only think of 3 off hand. Either way, enough people that there was no way I was going to miss it :-)
Your message didn't sound like you were actually interested in going, but were just giving me the info. I wasn't wrong on that, was I? 'Cause if you guys wanted to go, I'm really sorry that I didn't call and get you tickets as well.
Re: Seek before you leap
Date: 2004-04-21 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-21 12:16 pm (UTC)Ummm. Why would the second parking spot come out of your budget? Also, if you got a rental place that had one parking spot, Mike could use that spot when he visits, and you could probably find street parking for your little car like Steve and I do when we're visiting (my) Mike.
Not that I get a vote...
Date: 2004-04-21 02:03 pm (UTC)- You have a strong motivation for purging stuff out of your life. When you do this, you also have less to move and it can be theraputic
- You can become more spontaneous (you don't have to plan trips into the city - you will already be there)
- When you hand in your notice, you are committed and have to do it
- You would move into the city just in time for all of the summer fun and perhaps T and Steve's arrival
- It would be easier to get people to visit you
Re: Not that I get a vote...
Date: 2004-04-22 06:28 am (UTC)Y'know, this would usually be good advice. My problem is that I tend to throw everything in a box before moving, and then go through and throw stuff out as I'm unpacking. Backwards, I know.
I'm pretty sure I am going to go ahead and hand in my notice next week. I'm just really, really dreading the actual moving part.
Now I just have to see whether I'll concentrate on the Yonge&Eg area, ot if I'll mainly look down near the Danforth.