"Let's look at some of those smaller complexes we passed on the way here." "OK". We found a little street with several small complexes in a row. With the sign posted out front declaring, "2 Bedroom for rent" we parked and looked for the office. There was no such thing. Outside one of the units was a wood sign with "Manager" written in swirly writing hanging on the door. It looked like something from a boutique. We confirmed with a passerby that that was the manager's door and knocked. It had a sign over the doorbell asking guests not to ring the bell. Babies. A man opened the top half of the dutch door with a 5 month old baby in arm. We asked if they had any 1 bedrooms available and he said yes, one moment. Leaving us at the door he went to put the baby down. His wife was also home. Coming back quickly he decided it would be easier to bring the baby. I like him already. A family man, who doesn't leave his wife with the 5 month old twins on a moment's notice. The four of us crossed the path and went upstairs to the available unit. Sick of reading? Want a picture? OK, OK, fine. Here ya go.
These are the stairs I have you walking up in my story. You are headed to the second door on the right. Notice to the left in the picture the diagonal wood beams. I have always considered this a cabinish style of architecture. My family disagrees but I feel these apartments are pretty cabiny for 3 miles from the pacific ocean! And did you notice the lush landscape? Can you feel the ocean breeze? It's there! I'm in love.
So he opens the door to a wide open living room with new carpet and clean white walls. All Peter can see is this.
I love the huge counter space at the end of the kitchen, the fact that I need to add bar stools to my registry, the half wall that opens the space up and makes one big area, etc. Peter sees brown and old. :) The sink and faucet are brand new and he mentioned replacing the stove. We gotta look for a frig! The drawers need some paper scraped out of them but hey, I'm not afraid of work! I love it and I'm not usually a fan of this style.
The door in the corner of the photo leads to the bathroom and bedroom. Straight through the door you'll take a step in the hall and through to the bathroom. If you take 3 steps to the left you will be in the bedroom. If you take a turn to the right you'll be in the coat closet. There are also two linen cupboards. Another photo? You got it!
The bedroom. It's probably the closest thing we will ever get to an ocean view. 3 miles yonder, is the sea salt. On the other side of those trees is the street. My favorite part about this window is the blinds. I seriously dislike the long hanging panel blinds. Bump one and they will be clanking for hours. Plus, we have a serious ocean breeze coming through that window and their will be no clanking allowed! :) Got any ideas for a curtain fixture?
This is a view from the front of the 24 unit complex. Walk down the path, make a right at the end, up the stairs and you're home, I mean, there. :) It's beautiful!
We have our garage below us. It is a two car garage we share with someone else. Peter was stoked about that! It is about 750 square feet. I really enjoyed the manager and his attitude about his job and his neighbors. He seems wonderful! We saw one of the neighbors about our age leave his garage on an Indian motorcycle. I'm sure Peter and him will be great friends. :)
Because it was only our second stop, we did not say yes right away. Peter as mentioned above wasn't quite as smitten with it as I was. We looked at 5 other places. 3 other big complexes (200 units+) and two other little guys that neighbored the one featured above. We talked and talked and talked. Ate dinner in the car at Chick-filet and talked and talked and talked. Drove to Disneyland and stood in multiple lines talking and talking and talking all the while listening to what God might be trying to tell us.
Some of the complexes had lots of amenities-- pool(s), tennis court(s), gym(s), fully upgraded units (granite counters, wood floors, new cabinets). We had to weigh all these tidbits. Should we look at some more?? Choose from today?? Try again next week?? Revisit some?? We affectionately named the various complexes-- the 3rd one was called by it's color, blue. The fourth one I named Basket Case. All the balconies looked like woven baskets and I did not like it. Peter didn't even notice. 100 baskets hanging in the air and he just notices the nice coat of brown paint. Praise God for our differences. My favorite complex was labeled "the little guy" because it was such a small complex. I'm all about the little guys.
By the final ride at Disneyland we were pretty sold on "the little guy". Their was absolutely no persuasion involved. I was prepared to search the rest of the month. For Peter, it came down to not wanting to pay more monthly for the upgraded interior and wanting a garage more than a carport.
His parents showed up at Disneyland so we got to share with them while waiting in line for the Tower of Terror. Peter showed them the pictures and I liked hearing his explanation because I could really evaluate what he was thinking as he explained the day to his parents. We called my parents as we left Disneyland begging them to stay up until we got home so we could show them (10:00 pm). They listened to our energetic explanation of the day, oohed at the pictures and answered our questions. We were 99% sure on the little guy at the end of the night. The first question on the phone this morning, "Do you still want to live in the little guy?" Yes! Peter is up skiing for the last time this season so I called the manager. Ahhh! I was so nervous. Trigger pulling is hard. "Wait 'til it's a house, Laura!" I know. I know. He is going to hold it until Friday for us because we are going camping for a few days with my family and we can't get back up there until then. Ahhhh! I couldn't be more excited.
This is a shot from the front of the complex. The farthest window in the photo is our bedroom window. Below the window is our garage. We get to move our stuff in on May 1st (Peter's birthday) but we won't start our rent until May 15. I'm tellin' you, our manager rocks! And I've only spent 15 minutes with him!
Now I gotta get ready for the camping trip in 30 seconds. :) I was a little long winded....I know...surprise, surprise.
Can't wait to invite you over!
p&l
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