with the pending eviction (for demolition) from my little house. I have finally got the go-ahead on an apartment rental and am signing the lease tomorrow.

It's a larger 1-BR in a neighborhood full of apartments, much more crowded area than I have been living in for nearly 8 years. But it's newly renovated and big ENOUGH (some things may have to go into storage....).

The asswipe developer who bought the property tried to illegally evict me and the people in the guest house. We complained to the city housing department who slapped him upside the head, saying, "YES, you DO fall under the jurisdiction of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, dummy!!! Now OBEY the law or we prosecute." So he went about things legally, giving us 4 months' notice back in late July, and put the relocation funds in an escrow account, and all was well.

It took me a while to find something within my budget (rents have skyrocketed in the past 3-4 years) and slightly closer to the office so I will do more walking to and from work. I couldn't get one of the giant 2-BR/1.75-BA 1300 sf units 4 blocks from the office like I REALLY wanted, but I looked at one and the sinks and tubs and such needed replacement or refurbishing and were ICKY. The place I got is that nice new feeling.....

I won't have knotty pine paneling and a huge stone fireplace and a big garden (just pots on a small balcony) and built-in bookcases and china cabinet. It's sad to be leaving. But it feels like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders where it's been sitting for just about 14 months. No more feeling of impending doom, just the urge to get going with the move.