Looking for a Room?

I have quite a few people that I’m helping to find a place to rent. It is really incredulous how expensive to “rent an apartment” these days in our city. I don’t think it is only the Westside, but pretty much all over Los Angeles, and in many other cities alike. The city government is busy approving all the rental units to be built, but if they are all renting at such high rent, I don’t know how that helps the housing shortage as it limits the number of people who can afford them even with the low-income housing requirement. At the same time, in my current professional iteration as a real estate agent, I’m the one who has a few lease listings at high price points. Two of them are condominium units listed for $4600 and $4450 a month! That feels so expensive, but that’s what the market seems to be at.

I confess, the reason I mention this is that I do often think about leaving L.A. Between the cost of living and traffic, I get rather discouraged to think about my future in this big city as I grow older. Fantasy about living somewhere quiet where there’s no traffic or high-rise buildings often visit my mind. Yes, I am incredibly fortunate that I do have a place in the mountains to get away to, which has always been an option for me to make it my primary residence. Yet, I know that if I move away from the city completely, I will miss it. While the city energy feels increasingly intense, I’m aware of explosion of amazing architectures and art around the city, which always excites and inspires me. Besides I have all my friends and communities right here that I depend on so much.

Whether I live in the city or in the mountains (or on the beach for that matter), the home is where my heart is. I just go with what I got for the time being and leave the concern for the future to the Divine. Wherever I am, may I live with peace, joy and safety.

#YouCanSitWithUs

Whoever You Are

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

-Mary Oliver