Have I sold my soul?

Dear Readers,

It can begin so easily and innocently. Sarah, one of my American friends (we tend to huddle together), was living in Salford for the past month-and-a-half. Her roommates were unbearable, the commute was too long, and as usual, America had ruined our financial status (now resolved). In an effort to help alleviate her suffering, I recommended she move into my flat. There were still two rooms available, and the rent was fairly cheap.

She accepted the terms, and moved in two days later (many things, like shops opening, and lunch, take massive amount of time, energy, and paperwork, but housing seems to streamline everything with "we'll do the paperwork later"). In comparing the step from her earlier accommodation to her new house, she had a nickname which isn't clean enough for my blog (I consider this a family site).

After a week of intensive cleaning, hodge-podge decorating, sketchy cooking equipment, broken electricity boxes, shoddy doors, and a mouse, she decided she needed to move.

(For a quick reference, the original post of my living conditions are here. I am obliged to quickly point out that my room was significantly better than hers. Her room was the first one I saw, to which I thought "maybe this isn't the best deal". I tried to pull the screws out of my wall, but they were pretty solid.)

The landlord has other accommodations. Quite a few in fact, and she was moved (within one day) to a newer accommodation, free of mice, decrepit ceilings, and electricity boxes. She was enthused, and, there being 4 other rooms available, obliged me to join.

Here is a quick summary of several of the factors that entered my head:

1. Price - The new house is a bit more expensive. Still doable, and still significantly less than the dorms (about $150/month less). Since I tend towards the analytic, I found myself estimating the daily cost, and pushing it against the aid package I have, allowing me to see what "extra cash" I might have for "extra things" such as food.
   
   Of course, the new price may encourage me to step out of my shell and find a job.


2. Safety - Although both areas are moderate areas in the safety department, and I haven't felt discouraged about the location of my house, I must admit the locks and security system of the newer house are a nice improvement to the padlock on my room at Rusholme address.


3. From School - This by far is the most difficult decision, primarily because the walk I take to school takes me through Whitworth Park, by the [WW] Art Gallery, Royal Eye Hospital, the Children's Hospital, The Holy Name Catholic Church, and the University of Manchester - some of the finest architecture this side of City Centre. By contrast, the new walk would take me by the newer buildings and construction projects, large behemoths of glass and hard edges, and a used car lot.
   
   I could feasibly take the old walk, without going too far out of the way.


4. Aesthetics - Another challenge to the newer establishment, primarily because I enjoyed the Saturnian garden in the front, as well as some of the architecture I venture to say many people miss when walking by (such as the stained glass birds on the window above the entryway - echoed on the wall near the stairs.
   
   In a stark contrast, the newer house is in a humdrum neighborhood, fallen asleep through the sin of conformity.

So when discussing this with the landlord, I was presented the quote above, and told at my peril that three people were looking at it that afternoon. Several hours later, when discussing the options with Sarah, I learned they had arrived, visited, and accepted the terms of the new house.

In a panicky frenzy, I called my landlord to 1) ensure that I would accept a room under the condition that it wasn't the ground floor room, and 2) upon finding out it was a small room in the attic, agreed to move in the next day.

So tonight I will return to conformity. Perhaps this void of creativeness will force me again out of my shell, but as any experienced player taking a turn in a significantly worse ensemble will tell you, this is not always the case. All I am obliged to do is treat the house with love and respect, and perhaps it will show me a surprise or two.

//End of Post//