The beautiful apartment with the tiny room

Late afternoon I got a call from C, a potential roommate with a room to rent in Jamaica Plain off of Centre Street ("Main Street" in JP), asking if I was available to come over and case the joint, so to speak. This listing mentioned that heat was included (very important) and had a washer/dryer in the unit (also fairly important). And a cat (not necessary, but adds an extra degree of "home sweet home"). A. offered to give me a lift, and so I got a nice little "tour" of JP.

The apartment is located in a big brownstone building, and it's gorgeous. If I dream up an apartment, it would look a lot like this one. Beautiful original woodwork (stained, not painted), high ceilings, big windows, a fire place with a gorgeous wooden mantle.... I could go on and on. Maybe I will! The bathroom was to die for: very large, with black and white tile, a GIANT claw-foot tub, and HEAT! A heated bathroom--what luxury!

However, the bedroom that's available is very small. Very. Smaller than the bathroom. Smaller than the room I have now. I would barely fit my double bed, dresser, and myself in the room. Crushingly disappointing. While I was there I wanted to live in their beautiful apartment for ever and ever.

But, as I trekked to the T station in the cold, cold, COLD night air, some of the glitter started to fade away. I think I would feel pretty cramped after awhile.

But it's so pretty! Even now I'm mentally cramming my belongs into the room. It could fit--I swear! But I don't know.... No. I can't take it. It's $633/mo, and though that does include heat, the other utilities still end up being $60 to $70/mo, plus parking is a bit cramped.

But it's pretty. After years of living in semi-trashy abodes (or ones that were pretty but COLD or--like my current place--retaining just enough of the original beauty to make me constantly mourn the massacre-like renovation) I just want something nice. I finally have a real job, real health insurance, a real boyfriend... I want a real home.

If only the room weren't so small!