This Place is LITRALLY an Over Sized Closet

Before the spelling zealots strike (Rosanne) I know literally is spelled wrong.  Explained later on.  So... What is up?!  I've been off the grid for a while, which is a good thing cause I've been BUSY!  So as I sit here sipping on a paleo margarita made with El Ultimo Agave tequilla, the official tequilla sponsor of CrossFit Balboa (yes that's right, we landed sponsorship from a tequilla distributor a couple weeks ago!), I brainstorm.  And you know what?  I just realized that while I've given a handful of folks back home a tour of my pad (virtually of course) I haven't had the chance to give the royal tour to the blog.  Well, you'll find it here... in HD!!!

So here's the story.  I got myself a cozy little apartment.  I only signed on for a three month lease since Ashley and I knew that I just needed a landing pad to get stuff sorted out.  I went with an over-sized closet, a 400 square foot studio apartment in a place called the Coronado South and Newport.  When I called the leasing office I asked for the oldest, most dated, and inconveniently located unit as I was definitely on a budget and was shopping price.  The gal helping me out obliged, and set me up with a 3rd floor unit facing the street far from parking with the old school white pressed board cabinets and white appliances... mega 90's.  Whammy, landed a spot, and I was SET!  I was sweating it a little bit because as you guys all know this whole thing was happening fast, and I just wanted a place to call home when I got to Cali.

Well as I was packing my car to leave Illinois back in September, I got a phone call from the Coronado apartments and they had informed me that they double booked the unit, and it was no longer available.  I got a bit worried.  I worked out a 3 month lease for 400 square feet at about $1,150 a month.  Unheard of in Newport Beach!!  Comparable units for year long leases go for $1,400.  Upgraded units for $1,750.  I was crossing my fingers that since they landed me as a renter on price, that they would honor it for whatever unit they found. Well they did honor the price, and here is what they gave me:

Apartment H103.  First floor entrance next to the pool and parking garage, very close to laundry.  Great location.  Not much better in terms of space, it's still 400 square feet, but it's the upgraded version!  BALLER!  42" TV included, mattress included (aka murphy bed), new counter tops, new appliances, new cabinets.  Good stuff!  I lucked out.  But here's the deal, I didn't make this video for the blog.  It's because my current apartment is listed on Craigslist right now.  Already you ask?  Yes.  I only signed on for 3 months, but a mere 1 and a half months into it I'm already trying to get someone to take over my lease.

At first I thought, man there's a lot of closet space here I bet Ashley and I could just make this work, it'd be a ton easier!  Naturally she thought I was crazy, and disagreed (respectfully of course).  But when she came to visit for a week and set her suitcase down and all of a sudden we had no room, I realized it would be cramped.  And she was right, which is typical.

And in standard Ashley fashion, the 3rd day out here she ran into a guy who was renting a 2 bedroom spot out right down on "the peninsula".  She checked it out and really liked it.  Then I checked it out and really liked it.  So naturally we pursued it.

The Balboa Peninsula is neighborhood that is built on a 3 mile long 1/4 mile wide stretch of sand that is a hot spot to live in Newport Beach.  So no matter where you live, you are less than a 1/4 mile from the beach.  During the summer it is supposed to pack up and be a blast, but it can be a pain to find parking a la certain areas of Downtown Chicago.  About a 1/2 mile and again 1 mile down the peninsula there are a stretch of bars that I would consider the closest thing to Downtown Naperville.

Well the spot Ashley stumbled upon is a little over a 1/2 mile down the peninsula on the bay side, and 1 block from the beach.  It's 2 blocks from the first stetch of bars, and about a half mile to the other stretch of bars.  There's a 7-11 LITRALLY (parks and rec reference) 150ft away from us.  The place has two bedrooms, upgraded everything, two garage parking spots, storage and huge patio which means the fire pit is coming with!  WOOT!  The lease is signed as of today and the security deposit down so it is official.  We've got our spot.  Now all I need is off load my over-sized closet, and move in.  Oh and of course I have to fill it with my little lady and her pooch.  Sure do miss those two.  After that, I'll be all set out here.