I will be moving into my new apartment at the beginning of May. I currently live in a 2 bedroom “family” apartment on campus. These apartments were built in the 50’s and have served as the married / family housing for several years. Well, seeing as I am no longer married, technically I shouldn’t be living here. But the people in the housing department understood my situation and allowed me to stay here.
Everything was great until last fall when word broke that the school would be tearing down all of these apartments in May of 2007 to build a new law school. The school claimed the apartments were “substandard” and it would cost too much to renovate them. Thus, they sent all of the residents an email informing them of the closure and offering no other living arrangements. Very classy.
So, the pressure was on and I was really in a bind. If I wanted to finish school, I would need to live close to campus since I do not have a vehicle. There is only one apartment complex close enough to still make the trip to and from class. These apartments aren’t your usual apartments, however.
All of the apartments are 4 bedroom, and instead of you having your own place, you “rent” your bed space. I really don’t like the idea of living with three other strangers but if I wanted to finish school, I didn’t have any other choice. So not seeing any other viable options, I went ahead and signed a lease a few months ago, that way I would be guaranteed a place to live come May.
Now, considering I have the worst luck ever… I get a letter in the mail a few weeks later from the school saying they won’t be tearing down ALL of these apartments and mine just happened to be one that would survive. Gee, thanks for telling me that now, after I’ve already signed a lease at the other place.
My biggest fear is getting in with three other people that are nothing like me. The apartment staff tries to match roommates based on a personality sheet that you fill out, but I still have my doubts. Each bedroom has a lock on the door, but that won’t make me feel any safer about leaving all of my computer stuff in there when I am not home.
But I suppose it does have its advantages. The price is very cheap, only $400 per month that includes all utilities, cable and high-speed internet. That is about $150 cheaper than any other 1 bedroom apartment in town. Also, it is 10x nicer than this crummy 1950’s spider infested place I am at now. Plus I will still be close enough to campus to get stuff done there, such as mailing out packages at the post office, eating at the student union, etc. That, and I will be “home” most of the time anyway since I won’t have school to worry with.
Now, my real dilemma: what do I do with all of my ’stuff’? I have a 2 bedroom apt. full of furniture, and just random stuff… all of which won’t fit in a small bedroom. The only things I will be using at the new place is my full size bed and a table to put all of my computer stuff on, and perhaps a dresser.
I could rent a storage facility and keep most of my stuff there, since I will only be at the new apartment for a year. But, that costs money and stuff tends to get ruined in storage. My current plan is to sell most of the big stuff; my plush couch that I paid over $800 for 
, entertainment center and a full size futon. I will try to box up most of the little stuff that I don’t want to part with (photo albums, stuff like that). As for the rest of my random stuff… who knows. I have several old computer cases that will likely see the trash can, as well as three drawers full of random computer accessories. I also have no place for stuff like dishes and silverware… Any ideas???
