Shades of permanence?

[elSicomoro]

Over the past year, there have been a few scenarios in which the Sycamores leave their palatial estate in Torresdale for other pastures. We've considered moving to another part of town, and out of Philadelphia...twice.

Yet, here it is, the middle of July, and Rho and I have just inked up for another year at our abode. The Sycamores are staying put in the City of Brotherly Love...until at least September of next year.

To be honest, it's a bit weird for me. In the past 8 years, I have lived in 7 different places (2 of those being dorms at college). Overall, I have lived in 14 different places in 27 years. The longest--10 years at my parent's first house in St. Louis. So, around mid-summer, I always get that urge to start packing up and head for a new destination.

From '98-'00, I did just that. Last summer, we looked for a place closer to my job at the time, but decided to stay where we're at. After nixing the idea of moving to Baltimore earlier in the spring, we came to a simple decision: "If the rent doesn't go up too much, we're staying here (at our current place) at least one more year." Our rent is only going up $30 a month, so we're staying put. And although it's tempting for me to look around at other places, I actually feel some contentment in staying put. First off, we don't have to come up with $1500-2000 to try and move. Secondly, we have everything we need within a short walk, bus ride, or 10-minute drive. In addition, Rho's job situation now seems stable (she works only 5 minutes from the house), and I hope to have mine stable by Labor Day. Lastly, I have no argument with the rent we pay, because of all the amenities we have and the area in which we live.

Someday, I WOULD like to buy a house. Obviously, not until there is job security on both ends and Rho's health is in a more stable state. But to be honest, I'm scared of owning a house. All the damned hoops you have to jump through with financing...what a mess.

What scares me the most is this: I am not mechanically inclined. Don't ask me to try and repair anything. I suck. I'm afraid that I'll buy a house, something will go wrong with it, I won't be able to fix it, and won't be able to afford to have someone come and fix it.

Oh...and I forgot the other factor: Where. We like Philadelphia and all, but neither of us sees us settling down here. I don't anticipate us being here more than one or two more years to be honest. I think Rho would like to go back to Baltimore. I'm not completely against that (b/c I could always find a job in Washington), but I dunno...Baltimore reminds me too much of St. Louis. I would love to be in Chicago, but Rho is concerned about the interracial factor, the winters, and the fact that she would be 800 miles from the nearest ocean. (To which I answer: People in our area already don't seem to like interracial couples, the winds aren't too bad if you don't live near the lake, and Lake Michigan looks like an ocean. )

So, for now, we're going to go with the present and short-term future views: Staying here, finally putting up our pictures and posters, finding me a new job, and living in peace and happiness.