Our New Apartment

We gave ourselves six days to find a place to live once we arrived in Portland. Until we did, we stayed in a hotel with three animals and all of our junk piled high around. As determined as we were to find someplace quickly, we also had to figure out where we wanted to live, how much we were comfortable paying in case we didn't find jobs, and how long of a lease we wanted to commit to at first.

After just three days we had viewed several places and decided on this lovely house way out in northwest Portland. We got so excited that we would be living in a house and not an apartment, that we were ready to blindly sign any lease the owner would give us. Upon meeting the landlord, we realized that while this was a dream house, renting from her would have been a nightmare. She actually wanted us to have anyone that ever knew our pets call her and give her references. She said she would have to meet the pets first before she decided if they were approved. All I could imagine was Julian clawing the woman's eyes out the moment they met and Persie peeing on her. She gave us the sense that she would be one of those landlords that popped in just to see how her property was doing. She told me I was required to weed, but not allowed to change the landscaping with my own plants.

And with all of this craziness we were still ready to rent it. Until she wanted us to sign at least a year long lease. Now to be honest, we have grown quite accustomed to being noncommittal. While a couple of years ago we probably would enter into a long contract, recently all we want to do is have options; the more the better. The ability to up and go at anytime is so appealing to us. What if we change our minds?


With this new found mindset, we decided to rent from a complex that gave us a four month lease with a month to month option after that. The place is kind of smelly and very off white. It gets practically no natural light and is not in our dream neighborhood. But it has flexibility, and right now that is more important than the homey feel that one day we would love to have. Hopefully in a few months, once we have jobs and have a positive cash flow, we can move on up to something better.

For now this place will do just fine.

It does have a really cute wood burning stove and super high ceilings.

The first furniture we bought was an Expedit from Ikea for shelving all of our records once they are shipped from Virginia.

One of our two "windows" facing east overlooking a sort of woodsy area. At least we get two balconies.

Making our bed frame.

Our other "window." We let Julian go out on the high balcony and watch the birds.

It's nice to have our own bed again.

Iggy of course loves the loft. He throws things off of the high ledge. He is a bad kittay.