One of my curtain rods fell down on Sunday signifying that they needed a change. Apparently, my curtains would rather be located on the floor. Unwillingly, I unscrewed the other side and detached it from the wall.
My wall is lopsided now.
I have been in LA for one year and 18 days. While I feels like I’ve lived here forever, I remember just yesterday having a parking space, a balcony and…fresh air. Trying to find an apartment in LA is like having a baby. You’re optimistic at first, but then quickly realize it will be long, painful and very expensive.
I started looking for apartments two months ago. I have to admit, I barely tried, because I have very little motivation. Its a huge effort to move and I don’t necessarily have to. However, writing my 1100 rent check every month is like giving away one of my limbs.
Every time I tell someone in LA that I’m from Atlanta, they inevitably have a cousin, sister, mother, friend, uncle, or neighbor who moved to Atlanta. This person has discovered low real estate prices, new job opportunities, good weather and less traffic (compared to LA…) For a moment, I remember my beautiful 4 bedroom house in Decatur when parking on the side of the house felt like such a hassle.
In my effort to increase my quality of life, I have been trying to move over to LA’s Westside, which is obviously closer to the beach. A few days ago, I realized I work in Hollywood and most of my friends live and work in the valley. I have no friends on the Westside, no job on the Westside and no chance of a future job on the Westside. So I informed my friends:
Me: I’m moving to Silverlake
Erin: Lex, Silverlake is not safe. You’re going to get shot.
Me: I’d rather get shot than live in Burbank.
(Erin lives in Burbank)
I also called my Dad:
Me: Dad, I’m moving to the Eastside
Dad: Oh honey, I want you to be safe.
Me: I feel very safe in LA
Dad: You do? Perhaps its because you live in Beverly Hills.
Me: Perhaps. I do live in the sketchy part of Beverly Hills though.
I went and looked at an apartment in West Hollywood today. Great neighborhood, ok building, sad apartment. Pitifully sad. One small room, a tiny closet, one cabinet, half a stove, a mini fridge and a sink in the living room. No parking. 900 a month.
In Atlanta, for 900 a month, you can get a brand new one bedroom apartment with new carpet, a balcony, pool and a parking space.
Maybe its time to move to the valley…
