Week #1: Housing Blues

"Murphy is Alive and Well in Jacksonville"

I've been in Jacksonville, FL for 3 days now. So far the entire experience has been a testament to Murphy's Law - one after another. And yet, I am still [amazingly] ecstatic to be here. Must be something in the beach air....

I arrived last Saturday at my housing complex. I was expecting to move into a 2nd-story apartment unit, since I had been given the apartment number "211." After being given the keys and signing my life away, I realized that the "2" of "211" was actually the building number, not the floor. My unit was on the back of the building, right beside the major highway that I had just come from. I called the weekend on-call person for the agency and told her that I had specified a 2nd floor apt. After apologizing for the mix-up, she asked if I could sit tight until Monday, when the housing department will be back at the office. Zonked out from working a 12 hour shift, packing everything in 3 hrs and driving for another 2.5hrs (in that order, respectively) I said "okay" and hung up. And fell asleep on the couch.

My reason for wanting a 2nd story apartment is mainly for peace of mind: I'd like to be able to open the window blinds without the constant nagging thought that - with the inside of my apartment being considerably better illuminated than the outside - I'd be like one of those vignettes in Spaceship Earth at EPCOT Center to passers-by (or even worse, stalker-types).

Also, the only obstruction separating me from the highway are bushes and trees, and it gets a little bit creepy when coming home after dark. I'd have to turn my back to the bushes when unlocking my door, and I'm into code orange the whole time, expecting some crazed flasher jumping out of the [beautiful fall-colored] foliage and showing me his [completely unimpressive] "goods". Of course, I secretly smile to myself and say Come on out, buddy. I dare you. I'll show you what I learned at Krav Maga class.

See why I'm glad to be at the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area.