Well the first few weeks… I think you could imagine what they have actually been. A little too much excitement here, a distraction there, and then nothing really gets done. I’m not going to say it has been a waste of time though.
The first 2 weeks involved Caitlin and I living in my cousin Christie and Roberts down town condo while they moved out. Fortunately for us they felt compelled to leave us with a basic arrangement of furniture so we could live and relax comfortably. Unfortunately the standards were set very high upon our move because we were living in the best area for location and quality of housing. When we were looking around we had no idea what even to think of other areas. The only experience we had was step out the front door and instantly we had a streetcar pulling in front of us to take us to more location than I personally had the privilege to visit in years past. I would like to say I sort of miss the feeling of La Crosse. Where do you go for groceries? Oh the Festival on 4th near downtown. How about live music, karaoke, or maybe even wings? Downtown! Either way everything felt as if it were a block away no matter where I was. Here on the other hand, if something is on the other side of town it isn’t simply a step away. You have to either walk for what seem like days, sweating balls before you ever get there, or else hop on a trolley and pray you end up in the right spot. I remember the good old days when sweating never mattered, in fact it was a natural occurrence guaranteed to drench your body one way or another on a daily basis. Oh Fiji, how life was so much simpler. Now things are different. I feel uncomfortable in my stanky body. People checking the air like starving wolves looking to make their emotional and prideful kill knowing that is the only way they get by on a day to day basis. If those wolves’ names were Caitlin this is true. The problem being around someone you know very well all the time is that they aren’t afraid to tell you the truth all the time. When I smell, histrionic arms flailing everywhere and a flabbergasted Caitlin “Pew! Hey smelly. You stink!” She always knows how to keep my excitement levels and ego in check. There’s nothing more calming than being excited to go to a busy venue crowded with people to know that you smell poorly, because then the question becomes “Who can smell me?”
After many adventures around town like to the farmers market, where I learned that I don’t like them particularly too much, to the grocery store, and then to food carts, we decided we have been spending too much time and money on gorging ourselves and needed to actually do something with our time. When we went to our first desired location for a dwelling, we were in awe of how clean it was and how much care went into the preparation for a tenant. Here in Oregon State Law requires a evacuated and clean premises before anyone can begin looking into the apartment. A lot nicer than some experience I have had. There are of course many different practices that go along with such nice places and we discovered them as we sat down to discuss the legal parts of renting. The property manager sat down and explained to us a $40 background check fee would be applied to our application. Simple enough, though more than I desired to pay for something that isn’t guaranteed. Knowing Caitlin was a student she b-lined her way straight to funding our rental. When Caitlin explained she did not receive student loans you could tell our host was taken aback. Recovering from the small shock she then inquired about my job and how much it pays. Upon hearing I was unemployed for the time being things got a little weird. She froze, staring somewhere between the desk and floor, and the only movement was a slight a slight twitch in her eye. I broke the silence with “I saved money.” She snapped back. “Well that just isn’t good enough. It doesn’t guarantee me anything” stated in an ever accelerating and rising voice.” All the while I was shot back in my seat staring wide eyed at this woman who is so intense about the fact we don’t have funding the “normal way.” She ended up throwing four background checks at us expressing the necessity of having 2 co-signers and the guarantee of a $1500 security fee.
The next few appointments went the same. It was all very shocking. I guess I can understand rejection for many things, but basic necessities such as housing? I never would have imagined being pushed so low to be undeserving of an apartment. The next few days were only shoved my self worth lower. Whenever I was intrigued by an apartment complex or housing unit I would be reading it to Caitlin and get to the end “low income housing.” And boom we were poor. More signs of our fall from the middle class appeared everywhere. I was rejected from a bank because I did not have a current place of residence, we had to lie on our library card applications, and then when we went running one night we found a free meal cart for the homeless. All of this was quite frustrating, and I seriously wonder how unemployed, poor, or homeless people can make it without some sort of assistance. Moving here I thought I was well prepared to move in and take the city by storm, but I couldn’t even land a house.
Luckily we found an apartment, which turned out to cost way way way more than I wanted to spend, but we were simply sold on the manager. Linda is her name and she is nothing but laughs and smiles even when I cowered in my chair telling her I was unemployed. She very clearly, very nicely explained what we needed to do and now here we are. I am a little mad that I haven’t taken my learned precautions with renting, taking photos, listing every ding in the wall, and whatever else I could think of, all because my property manager has lulled my worries to sleep by being too nice. She baked us cookies, which tells me she can’t do any wrong…yet.
Our big move in was quite spectacular because we shared a U-haul rental with Christie and Robert. In the morning we moved them, and in the afternoon it was our time to clear out our storage unit. Let us just say in the end someone was not up for Danny antics. “Caitlin stop and smile so I can snap a photo.” “NO!” Face down scowl as I take a picture of her moving a box. We didn’t document to move very well to say the least.
From that point all we have done with the place is slowly accumulated more stuff. For example, my big find was free 5 gallon buckets so we could make something that resembles a compost for our porch. It’s a work in process. Personally I believe our apartment is way to big. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “well at least it took up some of that space.” I really dislike getting things only to fill up a room. One solid purchase took us to the other side of the city where I didn’t feel too comfortable. When we drive through the number of potholes, busted off shutters and fences it tells us this isn’t a downtown condo. We pull up to a closed fence and a man comes out with his child and I swear if he didn’t say weeeeehoooo howdy there, then I must have daydreamed the entire interaction. After asking us if we knew that show Gilligan’s Island I knew this family has lived in a hole there entire life. We talked for a good while because we needed to dismantle the desk we purchased to fit in the car, and at the end of the conversation I was very surprised. “I install green energy technologies onto residential homes, and as a side job I fix computers.” Stunned. This hillbilly many in a “beater” does that? Just goes to show you don’t judge.
I really didn’t tell you anything. I’m sorry, Caitlin says that I really just bull**** the whole time when I write and forget what really matters. And that is why she isn’t writing. So take that. We decided she takes away my creative desire to express myself in a certain way, and I think she writes too chronologically (a.k.a. to me, boring). I’ll let her make her own entries though.
We are happily settled, riding bikes all over, baking, and of course picking the Oregon weed. Blackberries are not enjoyed on this side of America, so it is my duty to make sure every blackberry goes picked and eaten. Though I get in trouble for each activity we still enjoy them. “Danny, you ride too fast, and never know where you are going! Danny, you are too arrogant with your baking thinking it is soooo good! Danny, we have too many blackberries find a job and stop picking them!” Hmm, moving in with someone, questionable if I would recommend it. I’ve enjoyed it. Know all my words are only said in the most heartfelt admiration of the people and places I speak of. I wouldn’t tell you if I didn’t like it.
Hopefully there will be more soon. A stable internet connection is always hard to come by. Thanks for reading, and always remember to use your blinker when turning (PSA of the day).
No comments:
Post a Comment