Searching for Housing is a Drag

If you have never had to go out and look for a new place to live you have lead a charmed life. If you have searched the search for a place to live you will understand my current state of mind. Currently we live in a groovy little house way up in the hills of Los Feliz in LA. Its a great little house in a neighborhood full of mansions. We have a view of Los Angeles to die for from our glass walled house. Why are you leaving some many people have asked. Well the view is lovely but the trip to what we can see is daunting. Don't forget to pick something up as it is a long circuitous drive to get anything. I want to walk to a store or cafe or anything. No one walks in the neighborhood we currently live in other than dog walkers and maids. I know all of them. I will miss them but miss city living more.

So the hunt begins. We don't have to leave so that pressure is off but you still have to do the work. Lots of ads to read and real estate people to talk to about their "properties". Then there are the visits. A very charming older lady realtor showed us an apartment that she apologized to us for before opening the door. It wasn't gross or dirty or anything like that, it just was weird. The owner had an eccentric concept of what rooms should be shaped and sized. He seemed to be fascinated by triangular rooms and rhombus shaped areas that couldn't quite be called rooms just areas.
Another place we visited has a very nice balcony that looked onto a pool but the balcony was built with a 10% grade. I kind of liked it, sort of reminded me of the villains lairs in the old Batman TV show.
Later we looked at a beautiful building with a great central patio. The apartment had to be shown with the lights on and it was daytime! The elderly lady with the Russian accent who showed us the spot said it was relaxing. We thanked her but declined as we like daylight during the day time. It was then I realized that we were being watched by what must have been the entire population of the complex. We would have been the only non-old Russian pensioners.
We have seen some near hits though. One mid-century gem had a wet bar in the living room and a nice balcony. Unfortunately it was entirely painted beige and had gold wall to wall carpeting. It would be like living in the set the the old Bob Newhart set. They were very proud of the paint and carpet and seemed insulted with the suggestion of change. The place had a closet/dressing room and regular closet in the master bedroom! Why beige and gold?!
Then there was the cute little house with the lovely garden. Where it failed was the neighbor's garden that the cottage's garden overlooked. The neighbors apparently collect old bikes and folding beach chairs. From the street you would never think there was some serious hoarding going on back there! There was hopefully going to be an intervention soon but not before we moved in I am afraid, so I'm sorry but no.

We saw a theoretically wonderful place off of Sunset Strip, behind the Whiskey-A-Go-Go but the place looked like a place where a junkie may go to die. There were stairs in a bathroom that lead to the toilet. There was another short set of steps in the kitchen that lead to the stove. Which room was the living room and which were bedrooms? Who the hell could tell. Oh yes there is a balcony built for the suicidal by the insane.
We visited two places owned by the same landlord who told us to let ourselves in and look around. We happily headed to see them only to find them locked. When the landlord was questioned he wouldn't believe us. He told us we were wrong and to leave him alone. I know we weren't wrong as we met another couple also looking at the places and they too were surprised to find them locked. I suggested that perhaps the locks were enchanted and only opened for those who were supposed to live there. I got a laugh but not inside.
The search is not over but coming close to closure.