Renter No More!

I get to move out this week! This both saddens and excites me. Its definitely mixed emotions at this point. Allow me to explain...(as if you had any other choice).

I like living in Richmond. I like being within walking distance of my favorite restaurants and my bank. I like being able to go to Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Meijer's at any point in the day. I like being five minutes from work and thirty minutes from school. I like the fact that I can run over and visit my Goddaughter whenever I feel the need and I can go home during my lunch break instead of eating out of a fast food joint. I like knowing that when it snows, I can usually make it to my own bed, rather than crashing on someone's couch. I like all these things about living in Richmond. But...that's about it. In other words, I like the convienence of it, but nothing more.

When I first moved up here I thought it was going to be sooooo much fun! I would have people stopping by all the time and maybe even have a few parties here and there. I could go shopping whenever I wanted. I could take naps during my lunch breaks. I could work out at the gym across the road. I could drive a short distance and visit Kayla and Ashlee whenever they were home. It was going to be AWESOME!!!

Guess what? It wasn't like that at all. Ashlee and Kayla are super busy with work and school and having little baby girls running around their homes. Kayla moved shortly after I did. I don't have parties. I don't take naps. I go to the gym, but I can do that regardless of where I call home. No one visits, because I'm never home. I go to work, I go to school, and I come to the apartment to sleep. That's about the long and short of it. I don't even get to shop because all my money is going to rent and utilities, so there's no moolah to spend.

This is disappointing, but I was willing to stick it out up until the "cat incident". Yeah, that's what I'm calling it now.

For those that don't know me well enough, let me explain something about myself. It takes A LOT to make me angry. In fact, I've been told that I am way too nice and laid back about things. I don't get angry enough with people. But when I do get mad about something or at someone, then that is the absolute end of it for me. I will never like that person again and that particular situation will make me miserable until I remove it from my life. Since the "cat incident" I have been miserable here in Richmond. After work, I drive around for twenty minutes to try to avoid going back to the apartment. I hate it there now...and I despise everyone that has anything to do with it.

So today, I went to talk to the landlord. I wanted out of my lease. I don't want to pay for something that I'm not using (which coincidentally is one reason why I should have never thought I could rent in the first place. I am not the type that likes paying for something that will NEVER be my own.), so I had determined I needed to get out of the lease ASAP and using any means necessary. Now I was prepared to be mean about it, but I hated to do that. Of course, there is no real nice way to tell someone "I am not going to pay you anymore. Kiss my ass." So I opted for a strategy I have seen work many, many times for other women I know. A strategy I have never used in my life and feel somewhat ashamed to have stooped to such a level. I feel its beneath me. I used...pity. Yes, yes, I swallowed my pride and used pity. "Poor little April. That nice, quiet girl next door. She just needs a break and she's having a hard time of it right now. We should all feel sorry for her. Oh...and let her out of her lease." ;-)

Well...it worked. Helps that the landlord is a man I suppose. A woman would have seen right through it. And I'm also happy to report that I did not have to resort to crocodile tears. I was prepared to do just that, but it wasn't necessary in the end.

So I'm out of my lease. I am moving out this weekend. He already has another renter lined up. And I get my deposit back. Go me!

To be continued...