So, as you've read, we have found a place. I'm pretty pumped about it because it's brand new and lovely and has giant 8 foot doors, which make me feel like a miniature person when I stand in the doorway. It's the little things that make me happy. Also? Sunshine in the bedroom. Actual windows that will let light in to wake up to, as opposed to the cave-like situation we have going on in our current place. It's not like we have no windows. We have an entire WALL of windows here. It just happens to be at the opposite side of the space, so our bedroom is a big, dark cavern.

I write about the new place as if it's already a done deal, but in reality, there is still paperwork to process and checks to write, making me feel a bit helpless, seeing as I've made zero to crappy money in the year we've been here. I've been working, it's just been more of a learning experience than a profit making one, so not so helpful in the making bacon department. And by bacon, I mean veggie bacon, of course, only not so much, because veggie bacon is decidedly cardboard-esque, so let's forget bacon. We should change that expression to making soysage, because that is delicious. Am I making all of you meat loving folks crazy pants over my rejection of your food? Comments will read "Meat is Murder! Delicious murder!" Yeah yeah. This opinion is also shared by my man, who is a lover of all sorts of animal carcasses as food. It's quite amazing that we are able to live so comfortably together despite these vast differences.

Where we aren't different? Well, there is the procrastination factor. We are both world class procrastinating prodigies. Our future children will be born weeks overdue and likely won't walk or talk until they are 4. The gene will be that strong. That is why the application to live in our new home wasn't filled out until this morning. And it still hasn't been sent, because we aren't even clear as to whom the check should be made out to for processing said application. This makes me uneasy because I won't feel truly secure in the move until I know we have a signed lease for the place. I'm not really fond of feeling I'm in limbo. Sooooo I'm a little cranky pants, but I'll get over it. What I would really like is to find a yoga studio down there that is as good (or at least close) to the one I found here. Of all the things to complain about here (long, ridiculous winter, anyone?), who would have thought that I would find a yoga studio I adore so much. I've been to a handful of them down there, but none of them have really done it for me. All a bit too focused on one person's methodology instead of being about advancing one's own practice. Guess I'll just have to keep looking. It did take me over six months to find the place here. Anyone want to airlift a yoga studio, complete with kickass instructors and other students 500ish miles for me? That would be super.

posted by Elizabeth

I would have updated sooner, but there was the moving stuff and the moving more stuff and also hanging things on walls and cleaning things up and there has been the drinking of lots of wine, because we have had things to celebrate (see: accomplishing all of the above).

Before you see all of the lovely pictures of our new place, I will first tell you all of the things I love about my new town. Within walking distance, I have already found:

• A great wine shop where it is seemingly impossible to find a bad bottle of wine. Hey, someone has to provide the celebratory vino, right?


• A yoga studio, which I've only been to once, but so far, so good.


• A health food store, right next to the yoga studio, where yesterday, an older bearded gentleman shopped for organic Mexican fare, soy milk and vitamins while very much barefoot.


• Several really adorable shops full of antiques, clothes and general awesomeness.

All of that, a man who is more amazing when I see him every day than he was before we lived together, and this is our place:






















Life is good.

Because we don't have our own great pictures, I have googled some out. First of the winning place:








And of the close second. I have to say that one of the deciding factors was that the place that won out is a rental, and the runner up, though we could have rented, is for sale, which means we can buy it later on down the line. You know, after we have been living in blissful cohabitation for a while. That in mind, I figured that if we were going to rent for a year or so, I wanted to have all the bells and whistles, like the pool and roof deck. Still, this other place does kick some ass.






That last place isn't even worth showing pictures of. Housewarming party anyone? (when we actually decide when we're moving)

Not for the reasons he stated, but the third loft is from the place Elizabeth wants. The first picture is the loft that falls a close second, and the middle loft is an absolute no-go.

The stained concrete floors, the exposed brick walls and wood beams in the ceiling, along with the attention to detail is what makes her want the last loft. The place is immaculate. Every hallway, any common area, the pool, or wherever you look and walk it's perfect. Nothing out of place, everything clean.

When you consider the loft itself, you'll find they restored and sealed the original beams brick and metal. They made some minor (but well done) additions like staining the concrete to enhance the look of the place, but it seems to be a near perfect melding of old and new.

You can't say that for the loft in the second picture. While the photo I took gives it a relatively cool look, the place is like the bizarro version of the place Elizabeth likes. They painted all the awesome original brick, wood, and metal (With a select few omissions) a whitish grey. The hallways are dirty, the common areas worse, and the management seems to have no desire to do anything about it. The woman who walked us around the complex told us the pool was not open yet because of construction and you could tell she wasn't telling us the whole story. It was all over her voice and choice of words.

The layout wasn't too bad, but they have something like 20 floor plans and we magically couldn't view any but the most basic. Hiding something?

They really brutalized what could have been a pretty sweet place.

The loft featured in photo numero uno (As the Asians say) comes in a close second. They preserved the original building as much as possible. The two odd things about the place are the garage-style doors and the lack of a closet in the second bedroom (it's across the hallway and tiny).

When we originally saw the place in construction we figured it would be a live work space. They had these big garage doors on the face of each unit. We figured it would be smart for moving big projects and equipment in and out. Then we saw the concrete barrier built right in front of each door when we got closer. They obviously weren't designing the place for moving equipment in and out with a big concrete slab making things awkward.

They must have changed their minds partway into the design of the place, it's the only explanation. It is pretty cool, however, that you can bring it up on a beautiful day and turn your living room into a covered porch. Well, until evening brings the sun down and you notice that everything in your place is covered in a fine mist of pollen.

The place was otherwise well done. The bathroom kicks ass, the place has a more wide-open feel, and there is a space we could put an office in, allowing for the second bedroom to not have to double as both. Plus it's a 2 minute walk to her sisters.

Can you tell I like this loft the most?

I guess we look at things differently. I'm imaging how much easier it will be to fit our stuff, eat food, disappear into a different area of the place at times, and get to and from the places we'll often be frequenting.

She's looking at things in another way, at least on the forefront. She's got the artsy eyeball on things and she's right, the other place was finished a little bit better than the other. And since I'm not allowed to bring anything I own we probably won't have as tough a time fitting everything in as I make it out to be. Plus I get storage through work and the place is somewhat short term anyways.

So in the end, either place has the Bracelet Seal of Approval and I have to do something I'm loathe to do. Give Speaker props.

His reasoning wasn't spot on, but his picks were.

Betty, April...You should be ashamed of yourselves for letting a guy (albeit a metrosexual) get the best of you here.

We looked at three places while visiting our future city. Three places which I had already seen, places where her artsy fartsy antennae would tingle.

The first place is really close to her sister's house.



The second place is also close, but a little farther than the first. It happens to be the one I have the best pictures of because they gave me a tour of completely empty units instead of units packed full of shit.



The third place is designed with a more difficult layout to get a picture. Trying to do it justice was tough because it was packed full of furniture as if it was (insert your tacky pack rat relative's name here because we all know you have one) and trying to get the high ceilings, huge windows, and concrete floor all in one picture was hard.

That and I suck at taking pictures.

But you can see the brick in the background and the color of the concrete floor, finished with a nice shine by the way.



So she had a favorite, and one that was a somewhat close second. The third one has absolutely no shot whatsoever. Without seeing floorplans, because for the most part they are similar, and knowing one of the pictures sucks, which one do you think Elizabeth has her gigantic swollen eyeball on?