Sometimes All You Have Is A Mattress

I have just spent the past 20 minutes looking at Los Angeles apartments on craigslist.  Even though I’m back in New York it’s just something I do as a reminder that I have to finish what I started here to get back there.  I look at the old neighborhoods I’ve lived in and frown as I look at the spike in rentals.  I lived in a gorgeous pre-war 1 bedroom in the Miracle Mile area in 2006-2007 for $1050/month.  Something like that now goes for well over $1800! It’s a reminder to get my butt in gear so I can at least afford to live in my old stopping grounds.

 

While looking at these listings it reminded me of a man I had met when I first moved to Southern California.  He was actually the mover that moved me from Santa Monica to Miracle Mile.  He was beautiful.  Just handsome. Blond hair, blue eyes, tall with a swimmers body.  He was just an all around nice guy who liked me a lot.  I remember the first time I went to his place.  It was a run down little building on the east side where he rented a room for $400/month.  I remember how proud he was to show it to me.  You see before he had this room he was homeless.  Living in his van or on the beach.  He even confessed to agreeing to be some rich mans boyfriend just to have a roof over his head, even though he wasn’t gay.  His life in L.A. had been rocky but he was so grateful for his little room.  I eyed that room.  The mattress on the floor.  The dingy carpet. The bathroom where he washed himself and the dishes since he had no kitchen.  I tried not to judge him.  I didn’t know his story.  But I couldn’t help thinking “who’d be proud to live in this”? 

 

But I get it now.  I am literally starting over since leaving L.A.  I’m far from homeless since I live with my family again but I don’t have my own space.  There is constant noise and just way too many adults & a two year old living in a small space.  I am however in the process of moving out on my own again.  But in the meantime I’ll keep looking at these rentals reminding myself that I’ll be there again someday…soon.

 

 

Ohhhh what I wouldn’t do for a $400 a month room lol.

 

Till next time…