Moving Again

So, after the taxing 3-week search to find a new home, it's decided. Signed the lease on Monday night. Get to pick up the keys next Monday. We're officially moving to Bushwick.

The decision, like most moving decisions, was a hard one to make. Compound that with the cost of rent in NY and it's all the more a harder decision to make. And then you've got the fact that folks seem to love paying Broker's Fees (who the fuck thought that would be a good idea?) and you can really get yourself into a corner. The whole endeavor has is bittersweet but we're moving on.

In the end, it came down to what we want vs. what we could get for our money. We really like the our neck of the woods in Prospect Heights right now; 5 blocks to an awesomely awesome park is going to be hard to let go. I don't think I'll miss the 7th and 5th Ave crowds and double-wide strollers as much, nor outrageous $12/lb. bacon, but it was nice having the variety around.

But that's just it. We've been priced out of our neighborhood. Without getting too much into the financial side of things, if we were to stay where we're at, what we want runs for a good $500+ more per month than we're willing to spend. Obviously, people will pay that, as it just seems to have become an acceptable rate for the area. I will not, I can not. Can't just say goodbye to my hard earned monies so easily.

A key component for me was the outdoor space. It's hard to describe how pissed off I've been about not being able to use our existing yard due to landlord negligence. My grill currently sits parked next to the fridge in the kitchen. We lazily leave shit like papers and loaves of bread on its side rack. Meanwhile, he just sits there, mocking me for not turning on the gas and throwing some ribs on. Enough! That's so going up on the new roof.

The place we've found is the shit though. 2BR, full gut renovation: all new electric, water lines, windows / insulation / dry wall, individual hot water heater, deep bathtub, stainless kitchen appliances, full cabinets / drawers, oriental paper lighting (round in the bedrooms, cool squarish in the stairs), private stairs to the huge roof (shared just with whomever ends up next to us), view of the city, 2 blocks to the Jefferson L station. Renovation style was done as a "modern old building": they've kept brick exposed, all hard-wood floors, and even left some original ceiling rafters in place. It's not fully completed, but I've seen enough at this point to be won over and then some. And it's brand spanking new on the inside.

To all the naysayers who are like "ewwww.... bushwick? are you fucking serious? you're gonna like, get killed!" ..... well, i highly doubt that. Basically its a straight up Puerto Rican block, kids running around outside, and the good news is you can't hear any of that from our floor. I think our block is smack in the middle of a transitional neighborhood on the rise, so it's interesting to see how this will grow.

To all the Park Slopians we're leaving behind: I'm serious about joining BKB this fall so look for me there. And I hear (and can vouch from one ride last Friday) the G is running more frequently now. So we'll head down there, and you can head up here, we'll rock.