Getting My Life Back on Track, Part 2

Part 2: New Place to Live.

For the past year and a half, I have lived in Southie. It’s grown leaps and bounds in the past few decades, and I was housed in a rather gentrified area by the beach. I could smell the ocean from my house and was able to pick the bus up across the street. When I first moved there, the apartment was clean, smelled great and was affordable.

That didn’t last.

I don’t want to spend time griping; I’ve done enough of that. But my living situation became unbearable. The apartment seemed to only get clean when I did it, the rent was raised and even the proximity to the beach couldn’t redeem a thing. I knew this past winter that I needed to get out of there and soon, but I was held back by money. I was confident that I could get out of my lease early, but how could I come up with 1500-2700 dollars at once? First, last, security, agency fees… It adds up. I found a place in Mission Hill last spring, but they wanted their $2400 within two weeks. Who can honestly do that? So I gave it up.

Once I switched jobs, I discovered a program with my union where I could get a no interest loan to cover rental transition costs. Home free! I searched and searched and was screwed out of a perfect apartment and then rejected from several more and then finally found one: a bedroom in a three bedroom in East Cambridge. And it was offered.

I now save $125/mo in rental costs alone, not to mention on utilities (you can always save if you live with people who care about saving money too), plus my commute was cut in half. My roommates are mature and responsible, are fun to spend time with and make sure that I feel comfortable in my home. After a year and a half of walking on eggshells and hiding in the half solace of my bedroom, this move is incredible.

I suddenly feel freer, lighter and healthier. It’s a new slate. A new chance to keep things cleaner, more organized, and straighter. A new motivator to continue to get healthy and become the best person that I can be, at least the best person this year.

This year: new job, new apartment, new boyfriend… Things are coming up roses. My life is back on track.

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