september, 28, 2003 archives

living criteria

• one bedroom plus space for work area (another room, an alcove of some sort, whatever)
• reliable high-speed internet service available (dsl preferred)
• close to grocery store/shopping
• close to metro red or gold line
• on-site laundry
• kitchen with ample counter space, gas range
• close to library
• close to “good” grocery store (something non-big-chain)
• close to gym
• directv-ready
• morning light
• hardwood floors
• private view
• good t-mobile gsm signal

i may keep adding things to the list, but these are the things that came to mind first. it is roughly prioritized.

right now, i’m leaning about 80% in favor of giving notice and forcing a serious search for new living arrangements.

as you might have guessed from the pictures, i spent time yesterday cruising around on the red and gold lines checking out some of the neighborhoods around various stations.

the places i think i’ll end up looking: downtown los angeles, los feliz, hollywood, north hollywood, and near the beach in san diego. that is roughly in order, although san diego is more of a wildcard than anything else. even though i’m totally unconstrained on where to live, thanks to my work-from-home job, there aren’t really any places outside of southern california that interest me enough to make up for the fact i would not have time to look into them seriously over the next month.

buying a house is not something i’m considering. although i’m not thrilled about paying rent, i’m also not necessarily planning on living in my next place long enough for buying a house to be anything other than a losing proposition given my expectations for the housing market. there’s also the little factor of my not really making or having enough to buy a house i’d want to live in.