The right place...
... is hard to find. Blogging from Berkeley today, on the evening of Saturday.
Spent all day looking at apartments in N. Berkeley with the wife. The day started with VERY little promise. First few places we looked at were pretty depressing. Cheap but not exceptionally so, but very small and uninspiring. After a few viewings we had brunch with my future boss in the area. Well, I say future boss, but I have never had a definite 'yes' from him. But he keeps talking as if I have the job. I ought to clarify this at some point. Anyway, after lunch the apartments improved considerably. Until we saw an exceptionally nice place. Definitely affordable. Big. VERY big. Nice bedroom, living room, big second room (dining/work room). Great kitchen with a BEAUTIFUL stainless steel gas stove (brand new). Laundry room and a nice communal patio. THe problem with the patio is that it is right outside our bedroom. And communal. But I am sure I can do something about that. Walking around the bedroom naked a few times will dissuade any potential patio costumers I am sure. The estate agent was a chubby jewish (I think) guy that seemed a little uptight. They seemed that they would negotiate a cat, which is great. But didn't really like the dude. Kinda urgh... I think my comments to the missus were: 'reminded me of George from Seinfeld' and 'sexually repressed'.
Later in the day we decided to hand in an application so he suggested we drop it off at his house. We stopped by around 8pm and the guy came to greet us in front of the building. We was wearing shorts and was less officious but no less sexually-deprived than before. Mrs NT actually commented that he was staring at every female that passed by. He commented on how sad his life was (apparently he had just cooked beans and would stay in all evening) before a couple with a pizza walked by. That greatly caught his attention. Regardless of his pathetic existence I have good feelings about the place. I hope we get it actually 'cause I really liked it. Fingers crossed.
Funnily enough driving off we saw the guy again, walking out of his apartment. My guess is that the beans found their way to the trash and pizza was suddenly on the menu. Our poor pathetic manager. I hope I get the chance to talk about him some more in the future.
I will try to write more about my impression of Berkeley tomorrow or Monday. As an appetizer, I'll just say I really liked it. And the beer was finally GOOD. Really good. I think I am falling in love all over again.
Thesis progress: minimal. Over and out for now.
-NT
Spent all day looking at apartments in N. Berkeley with the wife. The day started with VERY little promise. First few places we looked at were pretty depressing. Cheap but not exceptionally so, but very small and uninspiring. After a few viewings we had brunch with my future boss in the area. Well, I say future boss, but I have never had a definite 'yes' from him. But he keeps talking as if I have the job. I ought to clarify this at some point. Anyway, after lunch the apartments improved considerably. Until we saw an exceptionally nice place. Definitely affordable. Big. VERY big. Nice bedroom, living room, big second room (dining/work room). Great kitchen with a BEAUTIFUL stainless steel gas stove (brand new). Laundry room and a nice communal patio. THe problem with the patio is that it is right outside our bedroom. And communal. But I am sure I can do something about that. Walking around the bedroom naked a few times will dissuade any potential patio costumers I am sure. The estate agent was a chubby jewish (I think) guy that seemed a little uptight. They seemed that they would negotiate a cat, which is great. But didn't really like the dude. Kinda urgh... I think my comments to the missus were: 'reminded me of George from Seinfeld' and 'sexually repressed'.
Later in the day we decided to hand in an application so he suggested we drop it off at his house. We stopped by around 8pm and the guy came to greet us in front of the building. We was wearing shorts and was less officious but no less sexually-deprived than before. Mrs NT actually commented that he was staring at every female that passed by. He commented on how sad his life was (apparently he had just cooked beans and would stay in all evening) before a couple with a pizza walked by. That greatly caught his attention. Regardless of his pathetic existence I have good feelings about the place. I hope we get it actually 'cause I really liked it. Fingers crossed.
Funnily enough driving off we saw the guy again, walking out of his apartment. My guess is that the beans found their way to the trash and pizza was suddenly on the menu. Our poor pathetic manager. I hope I get the chance to talk about him some more in the future.
I will try to write more about my impression of Berkeley tomorrow or Monday. As an appetizer, I'll just say I really liked it. And the beer was finally GOOD. Really good. I think I am falling in love all over again.
Thesis progress: minimal. Over and out for now.
-NT