SC January 27

I think we may have found a new home.

Really, it's more a case of process of elimination. Of the 5 AIMCO properties in the Columbia area:
1. Pine Haven Villas—no washer/dryer connections at all, and income restricted
2. West Winds—2 BR townhouses at 854 square feet?! That's a joke, right?
3. Riverwind @ St. Andrews—Snore. Low square footage for 2 br flats. Old appliances. Snore. No grilling on the microscopic decks. Next to no storage. Snore.
4. Essex Park—Creepy. Right next to Riverwind, but completely different exterior layout. Low square footage for 2 br flats. Very likely no W/D connections in 2 br. Ethnically challenging neighborhood.
Oh, I know, they're all going to be ethnically challenged; Columbia is 50/50 black/white. We're not racist; what I mean is we'd rather not have the gang-bangers actually living in our complex, and we got that feeling just from driving around. Can't be comfortable someplace, if you're always questioning your safety.
5. Quail Hollow— :)
We hit that one first, simply because it was the first one of the five as you drive toward Columbia from Aiken. Just off of US 378 in West Columbia, we wound through a subdivision of NICE houses and hilly roads to get to Quail Hollow. Got the girl to show us a TH, but we'll probably have a better shot at a flat come April. The THs run 1158 SF, the flat's are about 1200. 2 brs, washer/dryer connections, screened porches, older complex with good upkeep, 24-hour maintenance, courtesy cop on premises, brick exterior, and rates from $569 to $629. That bowled Les over, I think; we're paying $610 now for our 800 SF pit...he turned to me as we were touring the TH, looked me in the eye, and said, "I like this one." We hate putting our eggs in one basket, but we both knew from the moment we got a good look around. Plus since we're currently in an AIMCO property, they have something called Coast-to-Coast Transfer, which basically means waiving the app. fees. and security deposit and sliding right in. Thank God!

We cruised a bit more of the Irmo/St. Andrews area, and got to spend time with his Lil Sis, which was really nice. We hit the new age shop she frequents (small, but very nice...you know how you walk into some new age shops and can tell right away that they specialize in crap? Not this place; they obviously care about what they put on the shelves. I look forward to giving them more of my money :) Les and I already have anniversary or birthday ideas for each other from that place. And we grabbed a bite at Cool Beans, that coffee shop that's frequented by the campus crowd because it's like, right down the street from the horseshoe of USC. I had a blast! I get such a buzz from being around stressed-out people with laptops :)

Now what? Let's get crackin' and packin'! This trip was a shot in the arm for us both, I can tell. I have to iron out one or two things with the leasing office, but once that's done, we'll put the applications in with Quail Hollow to get ourselves on the list for end of April/top of May. I'm talking to the office about the closet and sink as well, and I'll start tearing through some areas of the apartment this week to keep myself busy while Husby is in SC.