The search for an apartment here has been something between "unsuccessful" and "a disaster." Two major problems keeping popping up like stuffed rodents through whack-a-mole holes, with me lacking the mallet speed and wherewithal to effectively pound them down. This has caused an occasional, terrified sense of "Dear God, what have I gotten myself into" regarding this whole Harvard adventure, but these mortifying experiences have been just fleeting with my enthusiasm invariably returning.
The first is that, in contrast to earlier plans of moving in earlyish-July, recent developments have made me want an August 1 lease, and I appear to be a couple of weeks too early for the market for that. So there isn't a lot of stuff to look at, so far as I can tell.
The second is that I have a great deal of uncertainty about how much I want to be spending on a place next year. In truth, I actually know exactly what I want to spend: the minimum necessary to find a place in which I am not going to feel miserable or overly hassled in ways that lead me to not take good advantage of the change of scenery. However, it is unclear what exactly constitutes this kind of housing much less how much I am going to have to spend for that.
The problem yesterday was that I think I had let Tales Of The Boston Housing Market intimidate me into thinking I was going to have to spend more for less than the places that I was able to look at yesterday. So I looked at places that would be absolutely dandy places to live, but they were so dandy that I started to think about how much more I would like to hang onto the extra $200-$350 that I could be spending renting one of these places.
So, ugh, it looks like likely that I am going to end up having to fly out here again in a few weeks to find a place.
All the while, you might be thinking: Did he really have to go to Boston to figure these things out? Shouldn't he have spent much more quality time on craigslist or making possible use of possible contacts in the Boston/Cambridge area? You're right, you're right, you're right, you're right. If you want to say you told me so, feel free to use the comments field, e-mail, or just shout it at me upon my return.
On the bright side, it's Day Six of my diet and so far, so good.
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12 comments:
Doesn't Harvard have a housing agency for just such as you (in Holyoke Center)?
House-sharing is something you might consider in the Harvard Square region -- with 'mature' types and a big house, it works.
Good luck! 02138
(Southboro -- with friends?)
With a car, you can commute to Cambridge every day, but try to be close to the Square. Take the apartment (or whatever) you're most comfortable with (and the $? Rents ARE high here!). You'll want to entertain; make sure you have a good space.
Apartments in Harvard area won't get cheaper as more come on the market (yearly exodus). Dandy ones disappear fast.
You'll find a place! And you'll have a marvelous year. You'll certainly give the mix here a boost.
Anon 12:10pm: While it is true that I always seek to entertain, you mean, like, having people over to my apartment. We'll see if Boston changes this bumpkin that much.
... like having someone over for a drink.
anon 12:10
Have you tried Rent.com? They usually have a pretty good selection to look at.
re your 3:45 PM: posting '... if Boston changes this bumpkin....'; There's a world of difference between Boston and Cambridge. Cambridge is the place to be. (Harvard's full of bumpkins, by the way; that's a plus.)
A little extra time at the beginning and a little extra cash month-to-month (you'll be able to afford it) will be worth considerably more than its face value to your psychological well-being in the long-run. You'll have a better time in Boston if you put a little effort in now to find a nice place.
(Do folks really think Harvard is in Boston? Oh my! BU is in Boston; Northeastern, Emerson. UMass in Boston etc. etc. Harvard Med IS in Boston. and the Harvard Business School, of course -- IS across the river. MIT's in Cambridge).
Take a dandy one, Jeremy; you'll be running with the bulls in August when the rush begins. All those schools... all those students and visiting scholars converging.
OK, I didn't tell you, so I can't say "I told you so" but UGH! You should have asked me! Not only did I used to live there (I thought you knew this) but I have contacts in the Cambridge/Somersville area who would LOVE to help you (remember my "friend" you met at ASA??)! Anyway, I haven't been in the market there in a while but my advice is to find something NOW. There are some really awful rental places up there and you know you aren't going to spend that extra money on anything productive so invest in a lovely rental home and be done with it!! (especially if said home is in walking or T distance cause you do not really want to take a car up there ... so get rid of the car and put that extra money into your home). OK, that's enough for now ... if you need further flagellation when you get back, call me, I am happy to oblige (hey, it might even help with the weight loss project ... you know, "give us a week and we'll flog your ass off" hmm, I smell a website cooking ...
Anon 3:59pm: I should have thought to ask you, certainly, except... I have no idea who you are.
it's "Somerville". re: cars in boston, it really depends on how much you value being able to escape the city on the weekends (and how you like to do your grocery shopping). if you're going to hang around harvard square, i wouldn't bother with the car. parking's a pain, etc. if you want to explore the cape, etc., it's probably worth the extra hassle of occasional long searches for parking on the streets or the added cost of a rental parking space...
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