Hallelujah!!

Many of the apartments in my price range are called "bachelor" apartments. Typically a bachelor comes without a kitchen. Yes, you read that correct; no kitchen! Also, they are not forgiving in their size. Since I have quite a lot of furniture and like to make mac 'n cheese from time to time, I wanted something more than that. The best way I saw to make that happen, was to start my search now. I signed up for a local apartment search service and updated my rental checklist. One of the first places I found seemed almost too good to be true. It was actually a 1 bedroom and in my price range! They were showing the apartment on 9/25, so I had to go check it out after work. After looking on a map, I see that this place is only 3.5 miles to the beach and just 4 miles from Brian's house. So far, so good. Upon arriving in the neighborhood, I realize that I had wondered about this area before, thinking I might like to live there. Getting better. I park and walk to figure out exactly which building it is. As I walk up to it, I see a clean, lovely building with a nice courtyard area filled with plants and flowers. Very cute! I head up to view the open unit. Immediately when I walked in it reminded me of my old apartment in Mpls. Gold!

The woman showing the place and I got to talking. She is actually the daughter of the caretaker who happens to be 90 years old! So her daughter helps her with showings and cleaning vacancies. I glance around the whole apartment and know that this is what I want. I start doing the math in my head, wondering if I can afford double rent for October and November. Our conversation continues and she mentions to me that she'll "be going through all this again next month." I perked up with interest. "You mean November 1st?" She replied, "Yes." I jumped on the opportunity to explain my situation and how that is when I would like to find a place and how I really the love the apartment. I tell her that I will pay the deposit now to secure it and ask what steps I need to take to have the property owners approve me.

A short online application, and a weekend later and I start getting nervous. This really seems too good to be true. A one bedroom, assigned carport parking, laundry on site, in my price range, close to Brian and the beach?!?! There's no way. I try to stifle my excitement with looking at other apartments and doing anything to keep my mind off of it.

Monday evening I received a phone call from another landlord that I had contacted telling me about his vacancy. After hanging up, I sit down to eat my dinner and my phone rings again. I'm a little annoyed as I would like to eat a hot dinner, but I figure it best to go into my room and check my phone. It's an unknown number, so I pick up. Sure enough, it's Casey from the apartment I loved. She doesn't waste any time letting me know that the owners have selected me as the person for their November 1st vacancy!! I nearly dropped the phone and almost started crying in the same moment. She let me know the details of paying the deposit, rent and signing the basic tenant rules, which I plan to do tomorrow after work.

I honestly couldn't be more thrilled. Sometimes the heartache and headaches we are put through test us and then it makes the treats in life that much sweeter. I believe every choice we make will guide us to our next step and even though the past year and a half, I feel I've made mistakes and haven't gone with my gut all the time, that is all behind me and I'm looking forward. This home will truly be my home and I cannot wait to see what the future will bring.

Oh and come visit me! I live by the ocean now! :)

Until next time...