A few weeks ago, we got it in our heads to look at apartments in Boston. The two months of living with my parents was surprisingly calm, but we both enjoy having our own space. I missed cooking for two, instead of cooking for four. I missed sweet, blissful silence. We looked at apartments online, and visited a few outrageously expensive small spaces. More expensive than our apartment in San Francisco? The size of a padded cell with sloping ceilings that even I was sure to hit my head on? “But it’s right in Harvard Square…” I tried to rationalize, ignoring the fact the oven was half size. It’s a good thing Devon has more sense than I do about these things.
And then….
We found “the one”. The knee-buckling, makes you feel wobbly, teen movie first love, “one”.
The top floor of an 1890 Victorian home in Newton, a suburb of Boston. There were no photos on Craigslist, and the description seemed too good to be true. The house had all the charm we both wanted:three bedrooms, a living room with a turret, a large eat in kitchen, two bathrooms, and a clawfoot tub. A small balcony off my office. Three parking spaces. Heat and hot water included. Exactly what we were paying in San Francisco, but double the size. Better yet, the house needed a little bit of love – not the big stuff, but painting, little projects, upkeep, and the landlord would be willing to fund our “This Old House” fantasies.
The landlord emailed us the next morning to let us know that he was planning on showing the place again, but if we wanted it, it was ours.
What did we do? Turn it down.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to move yet. I loved spending so much time with my mom. Devon and I were both working freelance. And I was scared of ghosts in an old house. Yes, ghosts. Living in Newton was too “adult”. Turning down that house seemed stupid and I regretted it. And then three weeks later the landlord sent us another email. The people he had shown it to had jumped at the apartment (we knew they would), but failed the credit check. The place was still ours if we wanted it.
By that time, Devon had a new job at creative agency doing what he is really good at. I was ready. We brought my mom along. We tactfully asked if anyone had complained about hauntings. The landlord looked at us and laughed out loud. I took that as a good sign.
And now, we are here.
We sold almost everything we owned in San Francisco larger than my cookbooks and his guitars, so we are starting from scratch in a house that has more space than either of us could have hoped for. We’ve been working on the necessities. We have our internet set up. I have a new library card. We have a bed, our TV, and one single chair. I’ll be back in the kitchen, writing long to-do lists, choosing color swatches, patching up walls, having people over, and keeping you all updated. It feels exquisite.
And, I’ll finally have a place to put these:
Welcome to Boston! I love living here, and I’m sure you will too. Your new place sounds fabulous. xo
Thank you Molly! It is so nice being back in this area!
Bravo, woman! It was meant to be. Isn’t it funny how life gives us reminders like that? Take the place. No, no, I can’t. Okay. Ready now? Take the place…The universe nudge. 🙂
I can’t wait to see what you do with the place.
PS. I’m a huge fan of Goodwill. Ever since I started trolling their housewares, I’ve found treasures galore!
Congrats on the new apartment! It sounds wonderful, and I bet the cookbooks will look gorgeous filling up bookcases in your new home.
Congrats on your move Sam! Finding a place to fit all your books is almost as spectacular as the adventure you’ll have pursuing your dreams there.
We moved from San Francisco to Wellesley this summer, so I am looking forward to hearing about the food you discover and recommend in the Boston area! Moving from a (great) apartment in the Haight to a little house in the suburbs has been quite a shock–my daughter keeps asking to go to the Ferry Building, and I miss walking everywhere–but we are enjoying getting settled and having grandparents nearby (my husband grew up in Needham). Congratulations on the new place! We wanted to live in Newton but did not manage to find anything just right for us.
how awesome, sounds huge! clawfoot tub, turret, balcony… sigh. I’m looking forward to reading about cannolis and seafood!