A good percentage of you have been to the apartment that B and I call home. I don’t think any of you would argue when I say that it is, in a word, GORGEOUS. Here’s all the pics from when we first moved in, or just look:
Hardwood floors, sky high ceilings, shiny new appliances, a WINE fridge, a patio for grilling, and a 10-20 minute walk from almost anything you’d want to do in downtown DC. The neighborhood is full of characters but safe, it’s 1 block from the metro and the grocery store, there’s a nursery on the corner, and our landlord is a dream to deal with. Oh yeah, and every shindig we’ve thrown there has been an absolute blast.
So why on earth would we ever, EVER move, you might ask?
Because $350 electric bills are not my friend. Because it was a LEETLE too expensive, anyway, and on September 1st, the rent is going up. Because, frankly, we bit off a bit more than we could chew in the excitement of moving in together for the first time, and now that reality is setting in, it’s time to trade down.
So, we’re looking. And, um, it is not going well.
You see, the reason WHY we ended up in said gorgeous apartment is becoming crystal clear. I am the type of person who would rather live in a shack, so long as it is in the middle of the action. I’m a LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION kinda gal. I also have very little regard for things like “safety” and “number of shootings per month in the area”.
Being a person with a slightly more practical mentality, B would prefer to sacrifice some of the “where” for the “what”. The what being less rent, nicer amenities, and being able to walk home without constantly plotting what your plan of action would be if someone jumped you.
I get that, I do. But to me, being at the center of everything is just priceless.
Looking back, this all explains why we ended up where we are now. It’s all the things that both of us wanted, which is, of course, why it’s so damn expensive. So, now that we’re trying to compromise and find someplace cheaper that we both can stand, it seems we are at an impasse. (Inconceivable!) The only problem is, rents in DC have seemingly shot through the roof as of late, and “compromising” seems to mean “moving somewhere we could never, ever bring our parents to.”
He says Navy Yard. I say I would sooner die.
I say Columbia Heights, but, you know, the less safe (less expensive) parts. He says he likes being un-mugged. (Psssssshhhh.)
He says up the red line, towards Maryland. I say Cleveland Park is my limit, and even then it’s far too cookie-cutter for my liking.
I say further into Shaw, maybe Ledroit Park. He says we’re so white, we would positively GLOW there.
(Well, and he’s right. But here’s Katie’s and my theory; people don’t “just get shot” over there the way people “just get mugged” in Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights. In east Shaw, if someone gets killed, it’s because they had it coming. It’s not like random drive bys, or stray bullets. It’s like, you fucked my baby daddy, and now I’m gonna kill you. Which is totally fair, no?)
And Virginia? Well, he knows better than to suggest Virginia. I’d probably break up with him.
Kidding.
(Maybe.)
We’re looking at three places today, and the only one we’re both excited about is most likely a scam, judging from the CL ad. We’re going anyway, just because, well, that’s how desperate we’re getting.
At this point, I’m sort of caving and wanting to just stay where we are and make it work. Who needs heat, anyway? We have our love to keep us warm.
(Don’t worry, I just punched myself for you.)
So, uh, if you live in downtown DC, and, um, need a house sitter for the next year… please to let us know? Otherwise, I’m pretty sure we’ll be homeless in about five weeks. I’m too pretty to be homeless, so I’ll end up taking a sugar daddy and B will be selling crack in dark alleys. If you see us bathing in the fountain in Farragut Square, please do the polite thing and pretend you don’t see us.
After you slip us a fiver, of course.
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You know, moving into Mr. President’s fully furnished townhome worked out so well that I am never going to choose a living space again. I’ll just send him ahead to get it all worked out (and paid for. what?) and move in once all the hard parts are done.
You should try it.
That sounds marvelous. Unfortunately, there’s this one stupid hang up of being madly in love with B… crap.
Ya know I live in Shaw and see a heatlhy number of glowing folks walking up and down the street. I love it there! You should check it out
I love Shaw- we’re technically there now, but we’re on the West side of the Convention Center, which is still very much downtown. It’s when you start to branch to the Northeast it gets a little more… interesting. Not to say we’re not looking. We’re looking everywhere.
I agree with B. I live in BFE which I grew to love….but now I’m forever spoiled. I pay 565 for a fourplex. Its basically a townhome. I have a yard, two floors, garage, washer/dryer hook up, two living rooms, a yard, my garden. Now I’m lookign to move to the city….and I’ll have to pay double the rent to get even close to what I have. and not be as safe either!
So, living in BFE isn’t that bad. Except for the dirtbikes. I think id take traffic over dirt bikes any day.
Good luck with your search! moving blows
It really, really does. That’s the other part of it… I am not at all looking forward to the physical labor involved, either. Sigh.
What about the White House? Actually rent would be through the roof there. Plus apparently the dude who lives there now actually lives there, not like the previous dude.
Also, WTF DC?! Why is rent skyrocketing in this fracking area?! Before you know it, we’ll all be homeless.
Well, if we’re ALL homeless, at least it’ll kind of be like a party. A very, very sad party.
I have an in with the owner of The Irish Times. If you find yourself sleeping in the Union Station he might let you use the bathroom at The Times to clean up.
Hahaha SWEET. I’ve seen the bathroom at Union and it is decidedly unacceptable, even for a bum…
I gotta say, I understand people who love living in the city but enough with the Virginia dissing. There are A LOT of place right next to the metro, with lots of “character” AND much cheaper rent. To each his own, but I love my state!
That said, good luck finding a place… I’ll be in the same situation in a few months.
There was no dissing, my dear. It’s a great place in its own right but it’s very different, and not at all what I am looking for, that’s all.
Hope you find a place soon!
Thanks, dear!
Yeah, Van Ness may not be a hopping metropolis, but I can afford my rent, I have a pool, and I never worry for my safety. I am cool with it.
The pool sure don’t hurt, I will readily admit this.
OK OK, I’m willing to pitch in a few bucks. But I get first dibs on the Timeshare Leather Couch any time I’m in town.
You already have tha- I mean, DEAL!
When I interned there I lived at the Potomac Club in Alexandria, it was close to a lot of things and we spent a lot of time in Old Town. Hope you find something that suits the both of you soon! I have a friend who lives in the Georgetown area, I dont think her rent is all that bad, they dont have much room though.
Old Town is cute, for a Sunday morning… not for living, for me, anyway. And Georgetown would be great, if only they would put a Metro in there…
Funny, we’re lokoing at a few places today too, and we are having the exact same problem just replace “Columbia Heights” and “Ledroit Park” with super scary Chicago South Side. Oh, the ghetto.
I feel your pain. The thing is, I am totally ready to move into the ghetto, but B is, how do you say, “sane”? And somewhat against it…
booo for your search not going well. on the other hand i looove chats about apartment hunting, i think people in DC can go on for HOURS about how they found there place, where they looked, utility bills, where they would live, etc. It is an automatic conversation starter anywhere. and of course the dance-around-the-actual-price part is always funny. like we all wnat to KNOW but we don’t want to ask.
Agreed. I will be MORE than ready to share my story of “how we found our place”… I just hope that we HAVE one in a couple months…
I ditto what Jo said. You can be close to the metro, close to many bars and still have character (and the bike trails, oh I love the trails of Arlington). You get way more for your buck. And if you live in Rosslyn, you’re even walking distance to Georgetown.
Can’t believe you’d consider MD before VA… Ick.
Not actual Maryland, just up that way… Van Ness, Friendship Heights, etc. I hear you people but I’m sorry, Virginia IS different, and it’s just not for me, that’s all. I despise biking and I’m not big on Georgetown. I am a District girl, all the way.
How about Eastern Market, towards Potomac Ave? There are lots of characters over there, but it is still close!
That is our ideal, actually! We are frantically searching over there… let me know if you hear anything.
With my sister living in Reston Virginia, I’ve been to D.C. a few times.
I’m wondering.
HOW could anyone live there at all? It’s a nice place to visit.
Anyways. You guys should get a trailer. That way, you could dress it up the way you like it (for B) and you can move it to where the action is (for you). You’ll probably have to start smashing beer bottles against your head and listing to Nickleback with trailer life, but so be it.
Genius. But I’m afraid Nickelback is the dealbreaker. There is NOTHING worse listening to that codswallop.
Oh come on… You can live in Arlington. My wife grew up in downtown DC and moved out to Courthouse. Its actually not a bad place to live. Lots to do. If you want to know where some of the cheaper joints there are to live then shoot me an email and I can give you some suggestions.
No. I can’t. I’m sorry… it just ain’t me.
You are definitely too pretty to be homeless. I hope you both find a place soon! Your current pad is gorgeous, so sad that you have to leave it, heating bills are ridiculous!
Since I live in the bubble called RI, I have no helpful suggestions or advice for your area, but I am sure it will work out! :O)
They are ridiculous. I have a feeling we paid someone else’s bill all winter, but there’s not much to be done about it now. Sigh.
you could live in a crack house with no windows and broken floorboards, and i’d still come visit you. good luck!
*BIG WET SMOOCH*
good luck with the apartment hunt! i know how you feel, it took me a while to find my place. you could always try and hit up the U st area or capitol hill. best of luck!
Those are our two ideal areas, actually. Keep your ear to the ground for us…
I hate moving. And I would hate to leave a place as beautiful as yours. But I understand the money stuff. Can’t you just pick up a little action on the corner every once in awhile for some extra cash?
I think our corners are spoken for, unfortch. Though if B wore a big pimp hat, maybe we could pull it off…
Good luck with the move!
Thanks, darlin!
Would a nice historic apartment in Old Town Alexandria would be too far?
I miss that place…
Yes. Way. But a lovely area for a Sunday brunch.
good grief I hate apartment hunting of any kind. i wish you two the absolute best and if I hear anything I’ll letcha know!!
(although, being a Virginian? I highly doubt I’ll hear of anything. *ahem*)
Ha, I hear ya. Nevertheless, if you do…
Good Luck! I actually am in housing situation also. I bought a house w/ my bro and the family and well it’ s not looking too hot anymore that I will get their half of the mortgage! AND to top it off I can move into my stepdad’s house for FREE!!! All by m’self!!!!!!!!!!! The thought of foreclosure is looking better even though my credit is FANTABULOUS!!!! Decisions Decisions!!!!
That sounds like a very easy decision to me…
Ugh. I don’t envy you. Moving is quite possibly the worst thing in the world, third only to being diagnosed with a fatal disease and having a rabid dog bite you right in the vagina.
My roommates and I live in lower Harlem (or SoHa as the hipsters call it), and even though gentrification is slowly happening, we still glow pretty brightly, but no one’s taken a shot at us yet. There have been 2 shootings on our block in the past 2 years though (one on the street, one a bodega hold-up) but since we’re not drug dealers or cashiers, I still feel fairly safe. And the rent is unbeatable for a NYC apartment in which you don’t have to share a bathroom with some junkie across the hall. Our place is actually pretty awesome. It certainly beats the shithole I used to live in above the porn shop. Although I will admit that living above a porn shop was always good for a conversation starter.
That is EXACTLY the sort of situation I’m looking for. Just trying to get B on board!
Some places on Massachusetts Ave. maybe? There are a lot of new apartment buildings there. They are near Chinatown and the metro and relatively affordable from what I hear. Good luck!
Those would be fabulous, except that they’re not at all affordable, from what we’ve looked into. Not unless you fit three people in a two bedroom with one living in the “sunroom”.
I’ll live in a freakin dorm room if it means I’m in the middle of the action, as opposed to a 4 bedroom loft far away from it. You’re right, it’s totally about location.
I don’t know why you don’t just use your hooking expertise for a little extra cash, darlin. If you love it THAT much… it’s totally worth it one night a week or so.
I sling drinks, woman, not tricks!
It’s a gorgeous place but $350 electric bills? HELLS NO!
This is what I’m saying. Even months when we weren’t THERE half the time and turned everything off, it was still close to that. Something is very, very wrong with the place.
Good luck with your domestic situation. I really don’t want you with a sugar daddy or B selling Crack. That would be very unfortunate.
Nobody wants this. Except maybe my potential sugar daddy.
Iowa is real nice and I bet the cost of living is a lot cheaper!
Ha. I do love me some corn…
I love the hood. And the theory of “they had it coming” it totally on the money. I actually blend in quite well in neighborhood like that. I mean, I already stick and typically people don’t mess with the “big tattooed guy” carrying a 40 oz and talking to himself.
BTW, VA isn’t that bad, especailly living right off the Orange. Good Asian food in my hood.
I know VA’s not bad- not at all- just not the right fit for me, personally.
I hate looking for a new apartment. I do not envy you for that.
Preach.
ah yeah, i’m having the same thing with dr.claw, i want to live as close to the city center as possible, and he wants things like “a yard” and “fresh air” and whatever.
i’m right.
I know! What do you even use a yard for, anyway? The imaginary dog that we don’t have time to take care of? Pssssh.
I agree with DB, there’s nothing better than feeling safe when you’re walking home. But I’m paranoid anyways so that might be why I feel this way.
Best of luck girl!
I could use a little more paranoia, most likely.
Moving sucks. My advice: Join the majority of the country and live beyond your means until your financial world collapses around you. Then you won’t have to hire movers because your belongings will be sold for cat food money or repossessed.
Sorry…D and I are moving this week and it blows.
Cat food? Psh. They’ll be out on the street with us. Axe Murderer can fend for herself, but Murray’s in trouble…
I’d slip you a 10er and a tube of fountain friendly body wash. And please tell B that being unmugged is totally overrated.
I’ll take mugged over homeless any day.
Mmmm, is that vanilla body wash?
I agree with B*
Sorry, I’m mixing up nicknames now…
It happens. Too many secret identities…
your place is seriously gorgeous. im wicked jealous, but i hear you on looking for something a leeetle more affordable. hope the search goes well!
otherwise, move back to boston?
I am so not opposed to that.
I feel your pain, LiLu. I just moved from the boonies of Vienna to Arlington. Somehow, I actually found a deal where I’m saving money in rent. Get closer to the city and pay less – who knew?! Hopefully, you’ll stumble upon a similar good find. *Sending good vibes your way*
Thanks for the vibes- I hope we get as lucky as you!
Good Luck on the apartment hunting!
I’m catching up on your posts! I THOUGHT I had you new feed correct but guess not so I’ve missed a weeks work of your posts! Won’t be happening again though!
Gah, I hate hearing that, but I’m glad you found your way back! xo
1) Lovely Princess Bride reference.
2) I don’t envy you in the apartment search – I toyed with doing it myself, after my rent went up. Have you looked at any of the apartment buildings along 16th? There are at least one or two every block from Q through Euclid.
You’re the first to catch that.
And thanks, we’ll definitely check that out!
Here’s a like to a AU’s off-campus housing search tool. There are some apts listed usually, though some of them are in the cookie cutter parts.
http://www1.american.edu/ocl/housing/academic_year_housing/Off_Campus_Housing_Listings.htm
Thank you so much- I just found a prospective building off there!
Dude, I am going through the same thing right now, except reversed. Shawn is all “location! location!” and I’m all “WE CAN’T AFFORD A SWEET LOCATION.” It is making my head melt. Good luck … I have no wisdom to share. Just angst. Lots of angst.
That’s it exactly. Lots of head-melty angst. Argh.
Totally can’t be easy giving up such a gorgeous place. But $350 for electric? Damn. Is that because of you guys or just all the energy the appliances and stuff eat up? Stop leaving lights on, damn it!
It’s definitely not us. We barely use the heat or AC now that we know what it’s costing. It makes zero sense, honestly.
Just some solid advice. If they show you an apartment but say that you can’t see the unit you’d actually be living in…and then ask you for a deposit. It’s a scam. I heard that on “handle on the law.” I don’t like to get mugged either.
Thanks love- I am super wary when it comes to scams. TRUST NO ONE.
hunting for a place to live is the worst experience ever!! Zac and I waited till the VERY last minute to start looking, then spent all of our free time up until a week before he started his new job, looking for a house… The best thing you could do is get a Realtor. I tried looking by myself for awhile… and it sucked. Then I found a totally awesome Realtor and will give you her contact info if you would be willing to move up to Montgomery County!! I like Silver Spring A LOT… we live less than a mile from Downtown Silver Spring and Wheaton.. It is a perfect compromise to Zac’s “I want to be near the city” and my “I don’t want to go broke and don’t like TONS of commotion” attitude. But its not super close to where you want to be… Just a thought!
Happy hunting!
I like Silver Spring too. It’s not quite close enough for me to live, but I’ve hung there a few evenings and had a great time.
Oh, I do wish you find some place soon, you really are too pretty to be homeless! And I’m with B on enjoying being un-mugged.
Wusses, both of you!
Columbia Heights would be my first choice…Ok, I guess my second. My first choice was to live in Baltimore, where I was actually able to purchase a home of my own. With a (concrete) yard. I have an hour and forty-five minute commute to work in D.C., but being a homeowner is totally worth it!
An hour and forty five?? That would suck the life out of me in about 5 minutes flat. You are braver than I.
I love the hood we live in. Lots of character for sure. I’m fortunate to have a roomie to split a 2 bedroom place in half. But I’m guessing for u and B that isn’t practicle since…well, why 2 rooms, right? Anyway, if I hear of anything I’ll let you know.
Well, shouldn’t it be even CHEAPER since we’re splitting a ONE bedroom? Alas, it is still so hard…
I spelled practical like a re-tardo
Forgiven.
When you said, “make it work,” I heard Tim Gunn’s voice. Good luck with the search. I know it sucks.
Seriously. If only Tim Gunn were here… I know he would make everything okay.
what a great place you guys have! I’m sure that you will find something:)
Thanks, hon. I hope you’re right!
Hey! The Thinker & I live in Navy Yard. I’ll email shortly with more deets and suggestions.
Please do. It didn’t bother you that there’s NOTHING else there? Just five huge concrete apartment buildings and the ballpark? It made me a little dead inside…
Feel you on this. Last summer, Tim and I looked for a larger home to accomodate our rowdy ass kids, and it was ridiculously frustrating. Luckily, we found something and didn’t kill each other in the process. Now selling the old house was a different story. Anyway. Good Luck.
Thanks… at least we don’t have to worry about selling, too. Although then we would be home-owners, which would be pretty cool…
I one time lived in the middle of the ghetto in a really great house. I had better neighbors there than I did when I lived in the hooty-tootie part of town.
This is what I’m saying. I will SO miss the Stoop next door when/if we go.
Ohhh, man! When I left my kick-ass one-bedroom apartment in DC, I was only paying $965 (gotta love rent control). They re-rented it for $1,250 after I left. And that was April 2008. I can only imagine how rents have skyrocketed since then. Ugh.
Columbia Heights isn’t SO bad, is it? I had a ton of friends who lived in and around that area and loved it. And what about Capitol Hill???
Good luck, lady. Looking for apartments positively blows.
Parts of Columbia Heights are GREAT- parts are still “up and coming”. And we are most definitely looking at Cap Hill- I think that would be the perfect compromise.
Good luck with the search! I know exactly what you mean with the different personalities when it comes to place.
Truth. But we will figure it out, somehow… we kinda HAVE to, after all.
I say that until you have kids, LOCATION is the only word in your moving dictionary.
Meh, you get mugged. So what? It isnt like you will be smack dab in the middle of the movie Ghost or anything.
Do I get to dance with Patrick Swayze if I do?
i lived on the dc/virginia border and we had a nice beautiful townhouse for $700 a month!! that was 5 years ago… give or take a few… but still. don’t write it off.
I promise you that same townhouse is going for double now…
crack and sugar daddies get such a bad rap, what’s up with that?
good luck, i’m know this is stressful but you’ll find something and all this blabbering about getting shot will be a distant memory.
I’M okay with the sugar daddy. B is not, for some strange reason…
So what you’re really saying is that you are going to nick the wine fridge for me?
Ah, looking for a place to live in the District can be such a challenge. Questions: are you open to living on the Hill? It has a great, neighborhood-y vibe, can be affordable, is a bit safer than some areas (though, really, you just have to be smart. Bad things happen everywhere.) Also, what’s your range? I have a good friend who does property management…but if her places are too expensive for you guys than it’s moot!
I would LOVE to live on the Hill. We’re definitely looking there- I think it’s the perfect compromise for us. And I’ll shoot you an email
Please move to Cleveland Park. It would really help my metro commute.
Or don’t move at all. The guy that works at your liquor store is really hot and someone needs to do him. I mean obviously not you, but maybe me. That could work.
Find me a decent apartment in CP, and we’re there. We can still go visit the liquor store…
I don’t envy you at all right now, I did the apartment search recently and all it did was make my head hurt. Craig’s List seems to be the best and the worst spot to search too, you find some complete hell holes but I also found a good deal on the place I’m moving into this weekend.
Love the place though, I can see why you snagged it. But a $350 electric bill would have made me faint as soon as I saw it.
I fainted quite a few times this winter…
It’s a recession. People are only using bullets to shoot people when they really, really need to. Ammunition ain’t free.
But maybe we can find a way to get Pepco/WashGas to just STOP ROBBING YOU.
They are asshats. Of the royal nature.
This is always rough. I feel your pain on the Virginia not being you, though. I moved back to DC to Dupont (well…technically halfway between Dupont and Logan) from Crystal City (which is a lot more boring than most of the Orange Line, but STILL), and I couldn’t be happier. I got a great deal on my place, too. It may have a mini-kitchen, but I can work with it, and I’m walking distance to everything, and they control the rent, so it’s actually affordable AND utilities are included. I know they have one bedrooms, too. Stuff is out there, you just have to find it.
Um, how bout your building?? Anything available?
Hey! I know the perfect place for you to live! It’s affordable, it’s in the middle of things, it’s not cookie cutter, it’s relatively safe, the scenery is incredible, and the nightlife is kickin’….
Commute to Asheville! Then we could go drink together. B will love it.
(it was worth a try, no?)
The nightlife is kickin? Why do I find that hard to believe…
Ha, just don’t be messin with no one’s baby daddy and you’ll be fine. B is such a weenie, just sayin.
Weenie McWeenerson!!!
I am TOTALLY there with you on location. If the apt is right in the middle of business and craziness, I could care less if I can only literally fit a twin in the bedroom! I am a sucker for cool like that.
Want to go out? Sounds like we’d make better roomies…
Here’s the thing, hooker. I have been to D.C twice and stayed in Bethesda, and I have no idea where these other places are. I just remember the cab ride from the airport and seeing actual leaves with color-like seasons changing n shit. We don’t have that in LA. BUT ANYWAY, point being….move to LA yay!
You need a car to live in L.A. Much as I love you, LiLu no drivey.
oh man, such a crappy situation, that i’ve totally been in before. (well, in va. but i wanted to stay in va anyway. i know dc people are va haters, but i love it out here!) keep looking and something will randomly fall into place.. that’s how it’s happened to me the last, oh, 5 moves in a row?
Actually, I think something just randomly fell into place… you are good luck, my love!
I wrote this whole thing about moving to LA and it’s gone, so let me give you the Cliffs Notes…
MOVE TO LA HOOKER!!!!!! YAY!!!! (I realize I am NO help.)
I would have failed high school with your cliffs notes. xo
I lived in Glover Park and rather liked it. Not SO far from the action. Only a cab or bus and metro ride away. Ah ha. Is Columbia Heights still really that dangerous? I had lunch there the last time I visited and didn’t feel like I had to ward off muggers.
The problem with that is the lack of metro, unfortch. Otherwise I’d be all about it.
PARTS of CH are still sketch. Lots are not. But they cost an arm and a leg.
Yah, I support you in not moving anywhere super sketch – you know you’ll be walking home alone in the dark in winter, even if it’s really early, and you want to be safe. Also, no to VA. You like too many city things to move out. I wish my condo would suit you – the location is awesome, but it’s small for two people and doesn’t drop your rent.
Yeah. We’ve seen a couple 700 sf we could make work, but it’s really about the layout. We like being cozy, but not THAT cozy.
I hate looking at places so much that when I move, I just take the first place I see…shit hole or not.
Good luck!!! And not for nothing, but I totally see your anti-VA stance. If I’m going to be in DC, I’m going to be IN DC…none of that suburb crap!
B wanted to take the first one we saw on Monday.
(And hallelujah! on the suburb crap.)
BEAUTIFUL PLACE! Yes that would be hard to let go of. Moving is the worst thing in the world to me. I do not envy you now. I did a minute ago with all those Nintendo’s and Champagne’s but now? moving? not so much. Lol
The ups and downs of life. Sigh.
I need a glass of champagne.
Come live here in the other Washington with me, I’ll never let you be homeless!
Only if it’s in Seattle…
Good luck hunting! Btw, Why are the energy bills so high in an apartment???
If I knew that, we probably wouldn’t be moving…
I don’t know any of the DC neighborhoods but I feel for you. We tried to compromise when we bought our house and it was a LONG search. We finally found something close enough to the city but far enough out that we weren’t paying a gigantic mortgage however we now have some hoodlums living down the street from us who are making me feel like an old hag when they wake me up at 3 am on a work night! The balls of some people I swear!
(I just remember I used to be like them and that makes me tear up just a bit and miss my college partying days…)
Silly hoodlums. Wade should run them down!
If you ever need some cheering up, you can think of me and the fact that I live at my boyfriend’s parents house and can’t find a job that pays more than minimum wage, despite my Masters degree…. (yeah, I am feeling a bit sorry for myself….. poor. pitiful. me.) Happy apartment hunting. so effin jealous!
Okay, okay, you win. I do feel better
I don’t know where I want to live, but I know it’s not in a city. You can have it!
Crazy talk. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Halifax has the fifth-highest crime rate, per capita, of any city in North America. And you’re right; if you get it, you were asking for it.
What I’m trying to say is that only pussies are afraid of getting shot.
EXACTLY.
You sound like me, I always wanna be in the center where everything happens. Driving everywhere isnt really fun!
If I never get behind the wheel of a vehicle again for the rest of my life, I’d be totally okay with it.
Mount Pleasant? It’s near the action and a little safer than Columbia Heights. I personally really love living in Woodley Park, but if you think Cleveland Park is “cookie cutter” it may not be for you…
Yeah, it’s a little quiet but we’ve been looking there. The main problem is most places we’ve found aren’t close enough to the metro. Sigh.
Oh man, here’s to hoping that your home hunt makes a turn for the better! I’m sure it will, though… I mean… selling crack is no fun. Sugar daddies might be, though…hmm…
I bet selling crack IS kind of fun. Well, until one of them bites your ear off.
I am dying of real estate jealousy over here! I miss the city… Now I’m crying.
I thought you were in Boston! You’re farther out, I take it?
I grew up in downtown DC, so when I was in my early 20s and my roommates suggested VA or MD I was horrified. But there were four of us and we all had different requirements (metro accessible, good parking, 1 bath per 2 bedrooms…). We needed a house with a lot of amenities that we weren’t going to find in DC for cheap. So we ended up in a great little Cape Cod house in Arlington. Walking distance to Courthouse metro (and walking distance to Georgetown for that matter), five minute cab ride to anywhere we wanted to go out in DC and some great little bars and restaurants only blocks away (and there is far more now). So while I completely understand that VA sounds terrible – I’d pick Arlington over the sketchier areas of DC any day. Quite honestly, there is far more to do in walking distance in that part of Arlington than there is in Shaw. OR Alexandria is pretty cool too. I worked in Old Town for years and that’s an area with a lot of character. Great shopping and restaurants/bars too. I wouldn’t do MD though – too far away from the fun areas of DC.
I hear you, I hear you, VA people… JUST NOT FOR ME. xo
Are you sure you are not paying the electric for the entire building, cause $350 is insane. My last electric bill was $17
That’s actually EXACTLY what I think might be happening. BS.
one of my friends in DC is moving out of his place. he lives about a block from PQ.
doubtful that u might want that area though. it’s a nice place though
I’m not sure where she lives, but shoot me an email. We’re open to anything right now.
Boyfriend just went to go visit some friends in DC last weekend. He was telling me all about the sky high rents and such. I hope you find something!
I’ve just gotten into applying for a place and hoping they take me (with a co-signer) cause I’m all poor and jobless.
Thanks, dear. I hope they do too!
a-fucking-men.
So say we all.
aww, so sorry to hear that! I’m still not settled into my home and I moved the last week of May! Uggh, If I lived in D.C., I’d send you a couple of bottles of wine to help with the stress!
Haha- I had a couple anyway…
Dupont Circle! Move there and tell ‘em Mr C sent ya!
Wait, maybe you should move there but NOT tell them I sent you.
I would LOVE to live in Dupont, if it wasn’t the most expensive hood in the city…
i can only imagine what the rent must be on your gorgeous place! i love the look of it and wish i could afford it (and that it was in l.a.!)!
I can only imagine what it would cost in LA. Sigh.
I hope this doesn’t make me sound freaky obsessed stalkerish, but I just read your tweet before I read this and yay! Maybe no scam after all! Good luck.
We’ll see. I don’t think it’s a scam, but we still haven’t heard back after putting our application in…
“you fucked my baby daddy, and now I’m gonna kill you”
LOVE it. And, yes, makes total sense.
Right??
oh, i’m so the needing to be in the middle of it type of person, which is why i’m so frustrated about where flake has moved to in texas….
it is flipping in the middle of NO WHERE!!!
i mean reall, all they have to do, is go to wal-mart, and i’m not so sure that will keep me entertained….
time will tell!
good luck on your search!
I dunno. WalMart can be pretty entertaining, albeit depressing.
“It’s like, you fucked my baby daddy, and now I’m gonna kill you. Which is totally fair, no?” True dat. See, we could totally survive in the ghetto.
Yessssss. Been doing it for a year now, after all!
Seriously I would cream myself if you guys moved to U Street (less 10th, more 16th). I love it here and you know how anti-DC I had become by the time I left two years ago…so that is saying a lot for the area.
My ideal is Dupont and now I am two blocks from Dupont and right above Logan Cirle with a park on the corner…tons of bars and restaurants and boutiques…AND you get the plus of having the safer area that feels quieter and then a block away you get the action and the late night crazy crack head squad.
Its ghetto fab AND posh all in one.
MOVE HERE.
Dude, it would make me so happy.
I’d love to, my dear, if we could find anything for a reasonable price.
Actually I take it back–its more gay chic than ghetto fab. But still…either one right?
I think it’s both.
While certain parts of being single bum me out, the whole lack of having to compromise on things like that is a definite plus. Too bad you actually want to take B with you
Good luck finding a nifty place you both like.
Thanks, dear. As long as we’re together, right?
You can take my Cleveland Park studio apartment, rent $1200, effective immediately so I can get the fuck out and quit crying every single day about how broke & miserable I am…
Wait? Living in one room doesn’t sound awesome to you?
Two people and two cats in one room? We would not all make it out alive…
Ummm…so, he went to the bank, talked to the teller about his ATM card and came back home ?
Why didn’t he show photo id and withdraw cash manually at the counter ?!!
I’m confused…
i tagged you for an award today!!
http://geminiwitchtwin.blogspot.com/2009/07/humane-award-and-best-blog-award.html
come get it!
Aw, you are the bestest!!!
Yah… I love you LiLu! I always laugh when i read your blogs! and your apt… OMG!! your insane, you couldnt kick me out! just become a hooker… seriously those girls bring it the cashhh!! Im sure B wouldnt mind sharing… he could totally be your pimp… ya know? Im JK! GOOD LUCK!!
-KS
He would make a good pimp- he looks really good in hats. xo
You lost this DC ignorant girl at Navy Yard and Columbia Heights.
There is a musical about these places somewhere I’m sure.
I’m sure there’s lots of snapping and hissing.
I’ll ask tomorrow. Email me if you’re interested. Not sure what your price range is, or about the size of the apartment you’re looking for (they’re probably pretty small), but I believe the one bedrooms run 1400-1500, and I know the price includes all utilities. Plus…RENT CONTROL. AKA, the best thing ever.
Thank you so much for checking, love!
I vote for Capital Hill. I live near the area. I’ll be looking out for you.
So far, that’s the plan…
i say cleveland park for obvious reasons…
You’re definitely not biased at all.
Wow, those sort of factors never really crossed my mind before! There’s like no such thing as getting mugged or whatever in Singapore, and there are shopping centers and grocery stores ANYWHERE you live. The only thing people think about when moving is the price, and distance to their school/workplace! Hope you find a fantastic new place (cheap) soon
)
That is fascinating. Maybe we should think about a bigger move… like, international…
“I’m too pretty to be homeless, so I’ll end up taking a sugar daddy and B will be selling crack in dark alleys. If you see us bathing in the fountain in Farragut Square, please do the polite thing and pretend you don’t see us.”
You’re friggin’ hilarious in the way you write. If I had a “you make me laugh so hard I fart” award, you’d be the winner.
Hahaha awww! Thank you so much!
My mind is boggled by all the locations mentioned. Wow America.
Wow indeed.
Awwww. Good luck! That whole agreeing on a place thing is so hard sometimes! And who can blame you guys for having standards after living in the beautiful place you have now!
I hate to say it but B might have a leeeetle point when it comes to personal safety…
Shhhhhh.
Good luck apartment hunting! It such a drag…I freaking hate every minute of fighting over where/how much.
Yeah, it’s the fighting between J and myself that I hate…not the hunting for said place as much.
I would agree, but yesterday we dragged ourselves all over DC looking at three places and two were a bust and it was EXHAUSTING. I hate it all.
Our electric bills are just as nuts… if not worse. I blame it on living with a dude. At least my dude. He insists on keeping the thermostat at 16 degrees all the time (celsius… not sure what that is in “real” thermometer talk, and too lazy to convert, but trust me – it’s freaking cold)
Ha- we’re the opposite. I always try to crank the heat or A/C and he won’t let me!
I’m all about location, too, and the place I’m renting now may be a bit too much for one person but I love every bit of it. I’d adopt you and B if you were near, really..but wait, that would mean being stuck and drunk with you every day..
It can’t be so bad.
I like to think it’s not.
Wow and to think I need a roomie. I have two empty rooms in a 1950s unrenovated tiny cottage rental on the lake, but unfortunately I’m in northern Jersey, 40 minutes from NYC. Wish I had something worthwhile to suggest. Second jobs? I know right….what a ridiculous suggestion…we all work hard enough damnnit! It shouldn’t be this hard to live a good life. Best of luck in your searching. The stories will at least be amusing.
Man… if only we didn’t have such “DC” jobs, we could just move up there!
the current digs are beautiful. you’ve got that right.
i wouldn’t mind shackin’ up there.
location is definitely key. so what if there are gun
shots outside your front door. duck and dodge.
good luck today!
“Duck and dodge” – 2 of the 5 D’s.
*phtttt* –L.A. from VA
Nothing against it! Just not for me.
Good luck with your search. I live in Baltimore right now but I’m looking to move to Bethesda or Chevy Chase this winter. Maybe Cleveland Park if I can get a place really, really close to the Metro.
It is a pain in the ass finding a new place. Seriously, best of luck!
Bethesda’s cute… way out there, though. I refuse to cross state lines.
Thanks, darlin!
Bummer that it’s so hard to find a place to live. Maybe Obama will let you rent out one of the wings to his home. I hear he might have some spare rooms in his place.
I’ll just knock and ask.
That first apartment is SWEET.
I’d almost move to live THERE.
You’re prepared for $300 electric bills?
Gotta say, I found my favorite apartment in the whole world on craigslist, so don’t hate.
Granted it came with a permanent bum on my stoop and I paid through the nose but I too am a LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION girl and I couldn’t say no to downtown Manhattan….. *sigh*
Barely left me any money to party but thank god I am cute and knew how to glamour men!
Downtown Manhattan… *sighs dreamily*
So here’s my suggestion. Live in the cheaper mugger-friendly area and spend some extra money on self-defense classes.
But you should go to the self-defense classes drunk…since that’s how you’ll be needing the skills, obviously.
I’m a genius. Thank me later.
YES. Because then I’ll actually remember what I learned! Same state of mind, and all that. You ARE a genius!
Get out of DC…why pay high rent in a place like that when you can pay comparable rent in places with better “action”?
I love the action here, thankyouverymuch.
I have not lived in DC, but looking for places in Maryland, I always come to the same conclusion… it’s cheaper to buy than rent, and you’re investing in yourself. Rent sucks (except for the landlord!). I know you have mentioned that money is tight, but have you researched buying? Good Luck!!!
That would be amazing, but unfortunately is not an option right now… I think you need this thing called “savings’ to do it.
I sacrificed location for quality, and it hasn’t been half bad. Though, just in general in LA you pretty much have to suck it up and drive everywhere, so in a way it doesn’t reeeeally matter where exactly you live.
Oh, and then there was the text I got from my friend while I was on vacay, “There was a shooting a block from your apt. this week.” Guess it’s good the lease is up on the 15th.
Good luck!
Well I certainly hope you find a place that is FABULOUS and SAFE! [within a respectable distance from all the action]
I am totally with you on this one LiLu. When AB and I undertook our epic house search a few months ago I was all “LOCATION!” I wanted a smaller place, close to the action, the shops, transport, the CBD etc. and he was all “SPACE” and wanted a full-on house without connecting walls (He’s a country boy) and a yard and a workshop et al.
We had such a hard time, that I even full out CRIED. Like tantrum cried, over the idea of living in a certain subdivision I deemed “too far”. Somehow we’ve managed to agree, mostly, and have a pretty cool (old and crappy) but huge house with a yard that’s not TOO far away from the city.
Regardless, I feel for you, and hope you somehow don’t resort to tantrums like I did.
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