{another angle}
I'm all awhirl because we're considering a big change - upgrading to a two bedroom apartment!
We had initially thought this might be the year that we purchased a small home, but it definitely isn't. I didn't even post about the house hunt because it was generally depressing (we looked at one place that had safety posts in the front yard because it was so close to a freeway offramp that there was a serious risk of drivers crashing right through the living room - and it was still slightly out of our price range).
I love our little one bedroom apartment, and I love the concept of small space living, but with both of us doing quite a bit of work from home (and work that involves piles of drawings and stacks of sewing) it has become very difficult to keep the crazy out. I think if we have just one extra room that will function as an office/guest room we'll be good to go for many more years.
The price is good - we got into our apartment during a rental boom and right now we're in a rental recession, so upgrading won't be a huge difference financially. It's the moving that scares me. My heart starts to thump (in a not good way) just thinking about it. My mind starts spinning thinking of the time it will take, the boxes I will need, the weeks of re-organization and re-painting. I think Dustin would move every year without any qualms. I, on the other hand, would like to stay in one place for the next couple decades, just to minimize the hassle.
There will be quite a bit of discussion this weekend. Stay tuned.
oooh i think the move it very exciting! it's such a good way to sort through things and get a fresh start on the new year. good luck friend. i'll be thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteoh how exciting! moving is a pain but in the end it will be worth it! and you can do kind of a spring cleaning and go through stuff and get rid of things you don't need anymore
ReplyDeletei used to have nightmares about moving: i lived in the same house from ages 1 to 17, so my concept of 'home' had a very physical component. (i mean, the paving stones in the back yard had my little hand prints in them and everything.) i'm also, like you, a big nester, so i don't like to move on once i've settled down (we lived in our little hell's kitchen apartment long after we'd both outgrown it and had serious rental drama*). all of that said, i can't tell you how much happier i've been since we moved to our bigger place in october: getting there was hard work, but it's so very worth it. and selfishly, i'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with a new space. good luck!
ReplyDelete*e.g. the bed bugs and the illegal hostel downstairs. gah!
my fingers are crossed for you and dusty! that would be oh so exciting to have the extra space!
ReplyDeleteSometimes moving feels good. Sometimes it can be a chance to weed, to cull, to start anew and with less weight...
ReplyDeletegood luck in your search! moving is such a tiring process, but once you find the right place, it will all be worth it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find somewhere quickly. House hunting and not finding anywhere in budget you both agree on can be really stressful. Apart from that, I love moving house - packing, unpacking, organising, sorting and getting rid of some old junk. My husband on the other hand is not so keen - like you he'd happily live in the same house his whole life.
ReplyDeleteMoving sucks, I totally understand. I moved 12 times in six years and it was awful every time. When I was a kid, our family moved around quite a bit, but at not quite the same turnover. Now that I'm out on my own, so to speak, and done with college, I'm happy in my apartment and will stay here for a couple of years, I hope.
ReplyDeletewhat an exciting change! i feel you on the moving though. my move in august was one of the worst experiences of my life, although that was partly because i had to do 90% of the packing and unpacking myself with dogs in tow. it was so much easier when all we had to deal with was a dorm room!
ReplyDeletewe recently made the move from a one bedroom in brentwood to a 2 bedroom (with a yard!) in mar vista and even though it was a pain in the rear, it was the best decision ever. having that one extra room really makes a world of difference, and once you are all settled in you will wonder how you ever made it work before. good luck!
ReplyDeletethe extra space might be worth the hassle ;)
ReplyDeletethe last place i lived in should have been condemmed and still i stayed because i couldn't face the thought of moving...finally, i was forced to (thank god) as i had no heating. i feel your pain.
ReplyDeletegood luck with it all - when you get moved you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Having the extra space is definitely worth the hassle, in my opinion, but that doesn't mean I enjoy the physical moving. I despise packing and unpacking (including for a trip, no matter how short or long or fun the trip will be). If someone would do it for me, then maybe I wouldn't mind it so much. But putting things in boxes and then having to take them out and put them all away...it's just exhausting.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! And I hope everything works out, even if moving is a pain. =)
I know exactly how this feels. We've been considering the same (except the rental market here is brutal, we would be looking at either a harsh rent increase or a basement). But packing up all our stuff? Oh no, that would cause an anxiety attack I wouldn't recover from. Instead we're working on cleaning and downsizing on what we own so that when we do decide to move it won't be so overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely with you! I've moved 3 times in 3 years and there is no way I'm moving from our rental until it is absolutely necessary!
ReplyDeleteGood luck though, if it is for the best I'm sure it will be worth it! And I'm sure it will be lovely! Go for it! 2 bedrooms makes such a difference (I guess... as I have no idea!)
I actually going through the moving process right now, and it's scary! I'm living in my empty two bedroom all alone because my roommates have already moved out, without very much furniture. So as I pack, I freak out about living in an empty apartment for weeks. But as it gets closer, I'm so excited to move and have a chance to decorate the apartment MY way and neat new places to create in the apartment. So while it's stressful, it's worth it as well. Good luck! Hope you'll post pictures if/when you move of the new digs!
ReplyDeleteoh, i love moving. i know it sounds strange but it is a great opportunity to refresh everything and to simplify!
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful weekend, rachel!
oh i hope you do go with the 2bedroom! my husband and i live in a teeny-tiny 2 bedroom restored homestead in joshua tree, and although it's THRICE the size of my old shoebox apt in NYC i find it *still* gets quite full of STUFF. so there's a happy medium between a big enough space in which to live, work, and entertain, and a space that is small enough to keep one organized and minimalist in the *stuff* department.
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend. love your daily posts, by the way. a little late on the HoL train, but morselizing every moment now that i'm on board.
xo!
Yeah, finding a place in LA is soooo hard. But at least when you move you find the excuse to clean out, simplify, reorganize that you never would have done before. :) Yes, its a complete and utter pain, but having a clean slate is also exciting too! Good luck in the search!
ReplyDeleteThe joys of house hunting in Southern California! And LA is so much worse than O.C. I hate moving too. I will add a second story to our house before packing up all my things again. But you will get through it, and you'll have a fresh new start!
ReplyDeleteHave a great move - love the candlelight!
ReplyDeleteooh.. i think that moving can be so much fun :) i get bored easily so, move house makes feel good.
ReplyDeletegood luck in the search!
apartments 4-eva!
ReplyDeleteseriously, though... what's the deal with those napkins i can't seem to get out of my big head? and how can i get my little hands on some?
I see a move in your future and a craft room.
ReplyDeletego for it.
pve
I'm sure moving, though a major hassle at the time will be full of benefits Rachel - just think of that extra space and how much more organised you'll be! Having a spare room as an office/workroom etc will honestly be brilliant. You'll be wondering how you ever managed! Oh and Happy New Year!! I'm a little late getting around everyone's blogs! :)
ReplyDeleteOh so exciting! The move is always difficult but more space for nearly the same price makes it sound like a no-brainer. Especially since you've had a few posts about how its difficult to stay organized working from home (do I sound like I'm taking sides? oh no!) On the flip side, make sure if you do move it's somewhere you will love just as much as your current place and then you will be able to stay for a long time!!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. Moving can be very hard and stressful but once you're in the new place you wont look back. And it gives you an opportunity to embrace those projects that have sat around for a while waiting for you to get to them. Moving can be a great motivator.
ReplyDeletehttp://thebusiestbee.blogspot.com/
I know how you feel! We own our 1 bedroom condo, but went looking for 2 bedroom houses today - to rent. We'd rent ours out and rent something bigger for ourselves. I wish you luck in finding your new place!
ReplyDeleteI have to move soon also. I am not looking forward to it.
ReplyDelete