So, a week after we found out we had to move out, we’ve signed a lease on a new apartment – wait, a bungalow – and we’re making plans to move. We went the Craigslist route again and found a nice little place on the edge of Hancock Park, a free-standing little house, all our own, with a front patio, a back deck, and a garage for storage. I don’t think we ever thought we’d find a place with no neighbors and no shared walls, but it’s great, and it feels like the next step in the process of getting a little more grown up.

We had put this listing in our priority pile, but when I went to see it on Friday morning, I was sold, if on the outdoor space alone. We hadn’t even considered having our own yard, but the ability to eat, read, and lounge outside any day of the year is a great bonus and will make a huge difference. The other great thing about the place is the interior design, the built-in bookcases and the sconces and the archway between the dining room and living room. According to our landlord, the house was built in 1924; I hope to do some research once we get settled. It’s a two-bedroom place with a small bathroom and a small kitchen, but a nice living room and dining room, and I think it will be great, once we get over packing, moving, and unpacking. It has nearly everything we wanted – washer and dryer, two car parking, two bedrooms – and isn’t missing much, primarily a dishwasher, but hey, I lived for years without one, and I’ll be doing the dishes anyway, so that’s mine to worry about. The huge garage for storage is going to be great; we’ll be glad to put all of the stuff in our closet, our second bathroom, and under our bed in there. It’s also a little closer to work for me, if possible, and I’ll still be able to walk every morning, which is great. Every other place we looked at was missing any kind of personality, and I think we both knew this was the place for us.

So, I guess that was the easy part, and now we’ve got to start packing and get moving. We take over the house in early November, and we’ll be out of our present place by the end of the month.