30 Days Notice

No, it's not a heart-warming romantic comedy from the people who brought you Two Weeks Notice, this one featuring Drew Barrymore as the pert and cantankerous upstairs tenant and Colin Firth as the grumpy landlord who wants her out -- until he falls head over heels for her!

No, this is real life. Milly and I have signed a lease and forked over a security deposit on a modest one bedroom just two buildings over from Milly's current residence, on the magical Miracle Mile.

First, I'll dispense with the bad news, which is shorter than the good news and less fun, too:

- For $1,300/month, which was at the outer limits of our range, there is no parking space, and our new street can be a little hairy at times, where parking is concerned. However, there are worse streets to try and park on (my current street being one of the absolute worst).
- No pets allowed.
- We've got to pay gas as well as electricity, but we're betting that this won't be too much of an imposition.
- It's a teensy weensy bit on the smallish side, and we're sweating bullets wondering how our combined possessions will all fit tidily, without seeming cramped.

And now, the good news!

+ Hardwood floors!
+ Lots of windows let plenty of light in!
+ Brand new appliances and fixtures, including a clean shower, new sink, clean stove, big refrigerator, etc.
+ Two ceiling fans AND a window unit air-conditioner (this coming year is already gaining reputation as one of the hottest in history)
+ Location, location, location: we're on the second of two floors in the building, at the very back, which reminds me of my current prime situation, tucked away at the back, not the first building to be pestered by riff-raff. Not facing the street, which sometimes is a-clamor with passing fire trucks and agitated traffic
+ While $1,300 was near our outer limits of budget, my share of the rent will equal over a hundred dollars less per month than my current residence! It will keep Milly's rent about the same, whereas if she stays put her rent will cost about fifty dollars more per month.
+ Did I mention the Miracle Mile? I can walk to: The Grove, the Farmer's Market, a quality card shop and gift shop, a Ralph's grocery store, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, K-Mart, Hollywood Video, Johnny's New York Pizza, Marie Calendar's, L.A. County Museum of Art, a $0.99 Store, Rite-Aide, Walgreens, Smart-n-Final, my favorite little revival movie house in the world The New Beverly Cinema... And who knows what else! Milly has a six-year familiarity going with this neighborhood, but mine isn't shabby either, as I've been spending a good deal of time here over the past year and a half (going on two). It's a beautiful area, one that I'm much more comfortable walking or jogging around than K-Town.
+ A seemingly wonderful building manager, who seems to have her sh*t together (she's an accountant, like mi madre!), and is friends with Milly's current manager, whom Milly likes very much. Our new manager has cut us a lot of slack, including allowing us to have the key to the apartment as soon as we come up with the first month's rent, even if our official move-in date isn't until Feb. 1st, which should prove an enormous help to getting everything moved in.

Which brings me to... Moving out! What a pain in the neck! I, for once, certainly don't know where to start, though my better half probably has more of a game-plan. (I'm also looking forward to constantly being in range of her good influence now that we'll be cohabitating!)

So, my plan for future posts is to count down the remaining thirty days, and giving some impression of our progress. Who knows? It just may prove to be a heart-warming romantic comedy after all...