Moving to the LBC

Thanks everyone for your wonderful well wishing and personal story sharing.  Amazingly enough this has been my first semi-negative experience with moving so it definitely threw me for a loop but I am finally able to clear my head a bit and see the good parts of my new abode.

Since the experience of finding housing in Long Beach differed from all my experiences and techniques in Northern California I thought I would share some of the things I learned

Tips on How to Move in Long Beach

Finding Listings – For this aspect of moving I would normally defer to my number one source Craigslist, but for this move it was not the best source.  Instead, my car and my camera proved to be a better resource for expanding my search.  Craigslist did have some listings but was also littered with scam posts about owning a house with $500 which although.  I used Craigslist to help guide me to certain areas but in the end driving around and taking pictures of the “for rent” signs in the neighborhood not only increased my options but also gave me a better grasp of the LBC.  I also noticed that the majority of listings are run through property companies in the area so googling “property management LBC” or something similar will get you even more locations to check out.

Bring your camera – Since I was doing all my apartment hunting by myself and was seeing quite a few at a time I needed someway to remember everything.  My companion during my visits ended up being my camera.  Between the still pictures and the video of each location I was able to revisit and share each apartment with friends who could weigh in on the experience.  One mistake I made was relying more on the video than still pictures.  Still pictures are still very necessary as the sometime fleeting view via video can leave you wanting a more static view to examine.  I think I might have discovered some things about my current place had I had more still pictures.

Location. Location. LOCATION! – The LBC changes in character almost every street.  You can easily find yourself in a bad area quick.  Make sure to ask others that know the area and spend time looking around your new place.  While I was at one place a neighbor came out to wash his car and was BLAIRING his music.  It looked like he really loved that car and that this would be at least a weekly occurrence.  That place quickly became a no-go

Make a checklist and FOLLOW IT. – I made a checklist of things that I wanted in an apartment and things to check out while visiting.  I was diligent about following my list at first but fell off the wagon as my moving desperation started setting in.  Next time I will not be so quick to compromise.  I say this because I spend a LOT of time at home so my home truly is my castle.

The Great Move of 2010

It has been five years since I moved into my apartment and in those years it has been good to me.  But if you have spent any time with me over the past few months you would know that I am over it and itching, jonesing, OBSESSING about moving.  I feel like the white walls of my boxy apartment are closing in on me and I need a release.  That release will come, I hope, in February when I move into a 2 bedroom apartment in Long Beach.  Now I have quite a few months until this dream materializes so in the meantime I am playing interior decorator as I gather little tidbits from magazines and scour all the DIY decorating websites.   I figures I would preserve these ideas and inspirations as well as chronicle them for future reference here on this old blog.  Now I will try and credit everything so that you all know where to find things and no one thinks I am taking credit for their great taste.

This was seen in Real Simple Magazine.  I love the colored peg board for my future craft room.  You did know that was the impending future of the second bedroom, didn’t you?

This was an excerpt from a 2008 issue of Martha Stewart magazine.  I like the way the clipboards are both functional as organization and decoration.

I have been lusting after this gorgeous color scheme – green with teal.  This is the Veranda Coverlet in Verde.  The Teal Rug is a kira Rug…way out of my price range though.  I was also wondering about how dark furniture looks with lighter hardwood and I think it looks quite nice here.

I have been thinking about making myself a three way mirror when I move and potentially decorating the backs if they are the cheaper thinner mirrors.  Here are the Stave Mirrors from the latest Ikea Magazine displayed just the way I was thinking.

Other Links

Design Sponge – Everything, Just EVERYTHING about his house is perfect. I am also a little obsessed with the red and turquoise color scheme too.

Design Sponge – Love the rug and the black frame with fabric inside

Design Sponge – Pretty DIY with wallpaper.  This company sells by the yard so I might buy some to spruce up my sewing cabinet

Decor 8 – Just so pretty and clean!

Design Sponge – Love the red and turquoise used.  The aerial view is to die for! and enough room for TWO sofas?!

Threadbangers – This whole DIY series made me happy!!

Craft Gossip – How cool is this?!  Too bad I got rid of all my slides.