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serindeAs the Gentle Reader knows, I have this past year been over my current domicile. Though the owners are taking steps to address some physical issues (the insect invasion, some building repairs, etc.), and some of the problems have gone away (the shrieking Russian chicks, Drunky McBuzzerPresser), the vibe has gone stone cold. Having come to this decision, and having the lease renewal I do not intend to sign staring me in the face, I am of course wigging out and second-guessing myself. Though I don't intend to start serious searching until after the New Year, it seems well to organize my thoughts now, both to have them organized (duh) and because burping them all out is likely to reduce the white noise in my brain.
Although I really like my neighborhood, the fact is that it's not a win for me to stay in it. It's no longer a ten-minute-walk to work and once![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sedai et iugus move, the next closest pals are in Washington Hts. or Brooklyn. So, the areas I'm thinking of include:
1. Morningside Hts.
Pros: walk to work; I know the area really well; an easy straight shot down to Penn to seesweh and other people in NJ; I should be able to afford a true 1-BR; lots of green space
Cons: Uselessly far from anything that's not Columbia; so much of the area right around the university is taken up with university buildings, that you have to go farther to get services
1a. UWS
Pros: Maybe not walk to work, depending on how far north, but biking is an option; closer to Penn, closer to the rest of the world
Cons: The dollar won't stretch as far. Might only be able to afford a largeish studio still.
2. Inner Brooklyn, along the 2/3
Pros: Brooklyn is where the fun is at these days; the largest amount of my acquaintance in the five boroughs lives there; one-seat (mostly) ride to work; 2/3 goes right to Penn, as well
Cons: By "seat" I probably mean "standing room only for an hour"; the MTA amuses itself by shutting that line off on weekends; I may not be able to afford anything in the livable sections; the 2/3 parts of B'klyn don't really sensibly connect to Williamsburg, where a lot of the interest is happening at present
3. Inner Brooklyn, somewhere Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens-ish
Pros: It's beautiful; old brownstones with front gardens and all. Good restaurants. Pretty central for getting most places.
Cons: ...except for work, because the F/G is useless to me (the transfer at 14th from the F to the 1 sucks ass); might not be able to afford anything at all, and if I can, it's probably tiny
4. Outer Brooklyn, Bay Ridge-ish
Pros: Love the neighborhood, which actually is a neighborhood; could probably afford a sizeable place in a pre-war building
Cons: JESUS CHRIST IT IS FAR FROM EVERYTHING. Awful commute to work (I have a tech who lives out there and he's always late due to subway shenanigans); awful commute to NJ.
As happens with jobs and partners too, you (think you) know what to select for and against in your next home.
Things I Want (but may not get all of) (features I currently have are italicized):
* Space for all my stuff, including that which is still insweh's garage; but also, space to arrange it so it doesn't look cluttered, which I have not managed at present, and it's easier to keep clean/vacuumed so sweh can come over and not be catted
* Room to set up a work table, so I can have sewing or painting in progress without having to break it down constantly
* Better arrangements for a stay-over guest
* Enough space to do yoga/play Rock Band without, again, having to rearrange the room whenever I want to do so
* Green space. A fire escape balcony will do; garden access would be bleedin' awesome
* Laundry in building
* A big bathtub and a good shower head
* High ceilings, good natural light
* Gas stove
* Control over my climate. I would settle for a radiator that I could turn off.
* A way to get deliveries
* Cross-ventilation so that I can be happy just with windows open most of the time
* Room enough for two. Just in case. Someday.
And then there's everything I'm worrying about: What if it's worse? What if there is a Weed Guy at the next place--or more of them? What if there are bedbugs? What if the neighbors are louder, or dicks? You hear so many horror stories... What if I hate it? What if I can't actually find anything I like before I have to move? Maybe this place isn't so bad after all. Et cetera, et cetera, and so forth.
I know the answer to all of those is simple: you deal with it; either break your lease, or stick it out and move the following year. A giant pain, yes, but not world-ending. But when these serpents start rising, we are not at home to Mr. Rationality. I am just petting and soothing them until they coil up again, or do something brainless until same.
I will create another spreadsheet to track the places I look at, as that worked well last time, and blort out my impressions here for reference. After the holidays, I will be severely curtailing my social activities and concentrating on blitzing this. If I don't have something lined up by March 1, I will dump everything in storage and crash somewhere until success is obtained.
Although I really like my neighborhood, the fact is that it's not a win for me to stay in it. It's no longer a ten-minute-walk to work and once
sedai et iugus move, the next closest pals are in Washington Hts. or Brooklyn. So, the areas I'm thinking of include:1. Morningside Hts.
Pros: walk to work; I know the area really well; an easy straight shot down to Penn to see
sweh and other people in NJ; I should be able to afford a true 1-BR; lots of green spaceCons: Uselessly far from anything that's not Columbia; so much of the area right around the university is taken up with university buildings, that you have to go farther to get services
1a. UWS
Pros: Maybe not walk to work, depending on how far north, but biking is an option; closer to Penn, closer to the rest of the world
Cons: The dollar won't stretch as far. Might only be able to afford a largeish studio still.
2. Inner Brooklyn, along the 2/3
Pros: Brooklyn is where the fun is at these days; the largest amount of my acquaintance in the five boroughs lives there; one-seat (mostly) ride to work; 2/3 goes right to Penn, as well
Cons: By "seat" I probably mean "standing room only for an hour"; the MTA amuses itself by shutting that line off on weekends; I may not be able to afford anything in the livable sections; the 2/3 parts of B'klyn don't really sensibly connect to Williamsburg, where a lot of the interest is happening at present
3. Inner Brooklyn, somewhere Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens-ish
Pros: It's beautiful; old brownstones with front gardens and all. Good restaurants. Pretty central for getting most places.
Cons: ...except for work, because the F/G is useless to me (the transfer at 14th from the F to the 1 sucks ass); might not be able to afford anything at all, and if I can, it's probably tiny
4. Outer Brooklyn, Bay Ridge-ish
Pros: Love the neighborhood, which actually is a neighborhood; could probably afford a sizeable place in a pre-war building
Cons: JESUS CHRIST IT IS FAR FROM EVERYTHING. Awful commute to work (I have a tech who lives out there and he's always late due to subway shenanigans); awful commute to NJ.
As happens with jobs and partners too, you (think you) know what to select for and against in your next home.
Things I Want (but may not get all of) (features I currently have are italicized):
* Space for all my stuff, including that which is still in
sweh's garage; but also, space to arrange it so it doesn't look cluttered, which I have not managed at present, and it's easier to keep clean/vacuumed so sweh can come over and not be catted* Room to set up a work table, so I can have sewing or painting in progress without having to break it down constantly
* Better arrangements for a stay-over guest
* Enough space to do yoga/play Rock Band without, again, having to rearrange the room whenever I want to do so
* Green space. A fire escape balcony will do; garden access would be bleedin' awesome
* Laundry in building
* A big bathtub and a good shower head
* High ceilings, good natural light
* Gas stove
* Control over my climate. I would settle for a radiator that I could turn off.
* A way to get deliveries
* Cross-ventilation so that I can be happy just with windows open most of the time
* Room enough for two. Just in case. Someday.
And then there's everything I'm worrying about: What if it's worse? What if there is a Weed Guy at the next place--or more of them? What if there are bedbugs? What if the neighbors are louder, or dicks? You hear so many horror stories... What if I hate it? What if I can't actually find anything I like before I have to move? Maybe this place isn't so bad after all. Et cetera, et cetera, and so forth.
I know the answer to all of those is simple: you deal with it; either break your lease, or stick it out and move the following year. A giant pain, yes, but not world-ending. But when these serpents start rising, we are not at home to Mr. Rationality. I am just petting and soothing them until they coil up again, or do something brainless until same.
I will create another spreadsheet to track the places I look at, as that worked well last time, and blort out my impressions here for reference. After the holidays, I will be severely curtailing my social activities and concentrating on blitzing this. If I don't have something lined up by March 1, I will dump everything in storage and crash somewhere until success is obtained.
