Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Lakeside, San Francisco

On May 31, 2019, the current 1-year lease my roommate and I signed will end. Roommate will be leaving the San Francisco Bay Area for the East Coast to be nearer to his aging parents. Date not yet set. His current work set up is remote, so relocating out-of-state will not be an issue for him.

For now, I've made the decision to remain until the roommate has moved out. My best option would be to find another roommate. But after 5 roommates in 5 years (all but the current roommate were temporary), I don't want another roommate. Yet I can't afford the full rent. In 2 years or so, I might.

I met with the property manager last weekend to discuss a few options. She's agreed we'll chat again once the roommate has moved out.

I have looked at other places that I can afford but run into the following:
1. Size.
Most 1 bedrooms I can afford are too small. Ideally, I'd like a living area at least 700 square feet. I gave up a beautiful dining table that seated up to 8 because I didn't think I'd have room for it. In hindsight, I should have kept it. If I am going to move again, I am not giving up any more furniture.

2. Minimum income requirement.
I saw a 2 bedroom flat in the Inner Sunset I really liked. But the income requirement was 3 times my gross monthly salary. My official monthly salary doesn't meet the minimum. I do have other sources of income, but for privacy reasons won't disclose them.

3. Parking and non-coin operated laundry facilities.
Yes, I'm being very nit-picky about both. I gave up a garage to move to where I am. Although I have the option of driveway parking, I only use it when it's absolutely necessary. (Don't even get me started on roommate's girlfriend's car parked nearly every fucking weekend in the driveway).

A few Saturdays ago, I looked at 2 places. One had parking but no laundry facilities. The other, laundry facilities but no parking. I haven't used a coin-operated laundry machine since 2010. I'm too old, spoiled and lazy to have to go back to one.

Surprisingly, one of the places I looked at last month has not yet rented.  The homeowner/landlord emailed me yesterday asked if I'd reconsider with a reduced rent rate. I explained as much as I like the place, it's too small.

My vent about rent must come to an end. Gotta get cleaned up, showered and ready for work tomorrow. Stay tuned.

2014 Highlights

As the end of 2014 arrives later this week, these were my personal highlights of the year.

January 28,2014 - Back to Work
After a 3 1/2 year absence, I returned to work full-time.

Job is very challenging yet fulfilling. The work I do is similar to what I've done in the past, but I now apply my previous skills and experience to a new industry - fueling. The majority of my work career has been in retail.

October 4, 2014 - Moved from San Francisco's Outer Sunset to Lakeside.

What I lost in parking and lack of storage, I gained in a bigger living space (including my bedroom), closer commute to work, and a 44% increase in cash flow because I share the rent of the house with a roommate.










October 29, 2014 - San Francisco Giants, 3rd World Series title in 5 years.

As they did in 2010 and 2012, the Giants were the underdogs against each opponent they faced in the 2014 post-season.

Defense, small ball, and a pitcher named Madison prevailed.





Wishing everyone a warm, joyous, safe and Happy New Year for 2015.

Moving in, phase III: Self-Espressions

TV stand

Shoe Cabinet

As I'm gradually settling in and unpacking the rest of my boxes, you may have noticed I'm very partial to furniture in an espresso color.

Bathroom Wall Cabinet

Bed

Coffee Table

Rack of hooks

The latest piece of "espression", a clothing armoire, will arrive in the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Moving in, phase II

Den - Office - Storage

Bedroom

Three weeks in, I am about two-thirds unpacked. The only room I haven't completely unpacked is the den. Originally built as a dining room, my housemate set aside this room exclusively for my use, so I've decided to make the room into a den/office/reading room.

Although I'm now living in a house almost 300 square feet larger than my previous rented house, I moved into the house as a secondary occupant. Which means no garage, no master bedroom with enclosed bathroom and most importantly, less storage. I've been spending a bunch of time online researching storage ideas.

Kitchen

Bathroom

Living Room

At first, I was thinking about an armoire and storage cabinets. Since I don't know how long I'll be here (I hope for awhile), I want the storage to be inexpensive, versatile and mobile in the event I'll have to move again.

I'm really keen on finding storage ideas for unused spaces. This is common in big cities with small dwellings like Tokyo, New York, Paris and of course where I live, San Francisco. I found a few other nifty ideas on Pinterest and pinned them to my page for future reference.

I installed a shower pole caddy in the bathroom today. I have on order with The Container Store for a couple of narrow storage drawers that I hope will fit in the gap between the refrigerator and kitchen closet. If it works, then I'll add with other storage pieces from the same modular line for the den.

Updates, likely sporadically, to follow. Comforts of home are always a work-in-progress.

Moving In, phase I

Bed duster is now a temporary window shade. Coach purse strap used to tie the blind. Airbed is used as an anchor to keep the window open.

As many of you already know, I moved to a new home over the weekend. The sweet house I rented in the Outer Sunset was sold and the new owners moved in.

I've moved only 9 times in my entire life. Which is why I absolutely, positively hate moving. I put everything off until the last minute. What I saved in money using non-professional movers was lost in time. Too much time. I've begun to unpack but it'll probably take me at least another week before everything is where I want it to be.

For the first time in 31 years, I am now a resident of a zip code other than 94122 (17 years) and 94118 (14 years). I moved to the Lakeside District, which is in zip code 94132, on the south side of San Francisco. I am sharing a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house east of 19th Avenue, just across from San Francisco State University and Stonestown Shopping Mall.

I chose to share a house with another person because 1-bedroom apartments in my price range and desired neighborhoods were too old, too small, too dark and lacked amenities such as on-site laundry and a full kitchen.

As the wall color and bedroom layout is just like my other place, I woke up very briefly thinking I was still at my old place. I'm not, so I've got to get back to unpacking a few more boxes.

More updates to follow.

Priced to Move - Everything Must Go

If you've clicked this blog entry in hopes to find the latest and greatest clearance sale, you're out of luck. It's all gone.

For the first time by myself, I hosted a moving/garage sale. Compared to most garage/moving sales, I had a rather sparse selection. One could call it a 'quality over quantity' kind of sale.

I began the sale around 10 am. A portable heater and a small folding table that doubled as a desk in the second bedroom kicked off the first items sold.

By 3:30 pm, everything I had put out was gone, including a wardrobe everyone seemed to like except me. Probably because it was the biggest reminder of the Kiwi ex-boyfriend.

During the 5 1/2 hours of the sale, I got to meet to some very interesting people:

• Katie and her grandmother. Katie was moving into a place 3 blocks away. She took my library chair/stepstool, bookcase and table runner. 

• Wayne and his mom. Wayne grew up in the Sunset and now lives in Daly City. He spends Saturdays with his mom and garage sales is one of the activities his mom enjoys. Wayne's mom got a kick out of the very little Cantonese I knew. They ended up taking a suitcase, 2 backpacks, a lounge chair pad, a fan, a comforter, 2 bed pillows, 4 accent pillows. 

• Ruby, a friend of a friend. My friend/ex-co worker Sherri told her about the sale. Ruby texted Sherri to ask if she wanted anything. Sherri asked if I had any knives. Ruby bought the wine glasses and got for Sherri a Wusthof knife set.

• Jose Sr. and Jose Jr. The father-son painters were the last visit and officially closed business for the day. They took the CD boom box, dishes, side tables, corner nightstand, and most importantly, the bed and 2 wardrobes. They were so appreciative they bought me takeout from the corner Chinese restaurant when they had to clear the truck bed of the first round of items they got. 

I credit my success of clearing everything because I was intent on selling, not haggling. The most I got from a single item was $10. The money made was enough to hold off a weekend ATM visit. Mission: Everything Must Go, accomplished.