Yes, there are tons of these condos around--I don't really see how they're going to sell all the units here. There's too many of them, and the buildings aren't new. The grounds have been neglected for several years, and they're just now starting to fix them up (too little too late, guys!). All the exterior lights around my building are out.

If I were to buy a home, I would buy one (preferably a house) in a much nicer neighborhood. Screw the convenient drive to work. I deserve better.

During our short stint of home hunting this year, we saw a bunch of those apartments-turned-condos. I would never in a million years buy one of those. They were, as you said, older, worn, and neglected. Plus, they looked and felt like apartments, with apartment style layouts, and apartment level ammeneties. Especially considering the prices they're asking out here for those, they were entirely unappealing.

That's what they did at our last apartment. They were pretty good for apartments, but there's no way I'd BUY one! My favorite part was at the information session where the high-pressure sales lady told the assembled gathering that we'd never be able to buy our own home unless we took them up on their "discount" for current residents, and that if we didn't sign on the dotted line we'd never be homeowners. Because apparently she'd decided we all looked impoverished. (Um, hello? Yes they're apartments, but expensive apartments in a very desireable suburb.)

So we went and bought a condo that was actually designed as a condo (it's a townhouse) and so we don't have to listen every time our neighbors take a whizz.

We're only an hour away from 2006 now. I hope that 2006 will be a year of personal growth and revelation. I'll work towards becoming better, stronger, smarter and happier. I hope for adventure, excitement, and serenity. I hope for travel and love and very little anguish. I want to experience as much as possible every day. I plan to live 2006 with drive and purpose and most of all hope.

I'm looking forward to a few new sig lines and avatars

We bought a mobile home at the beginning of 2005, and it has made life so much nicer for both of us - I can't wait to see what happens in 2006.

I'm either looking forward to or dreading a decission that I have to make some time this year. I'm being given the opportunity to choose my destiny, so to speak, at work. I can either stay the course and continue with the same main responsibility I've had since I was hired, or shift over and be responsible for a new area. It's not an easy choice at all. And it's not even one of those simple to categorize choices like, "Path A is easier while path B offers more updward potential." The risk/reward breakdown is pretty equal between them. One would initially be easier in the near term, crappier in the mid term, and 50/50 whether it'll be rewarding or crappy in the long term. The other would be initally kinda crappy, likely easy but very possibly crappy in the mid term, and only slightly more likely to be worth it in the long term. Ugh, the more I think about it, the less happy I am about having to make the choice.

Travel: to LA in February and late August 2006, both pleasure trips (with only a little work/hobby stuff in between)

Moving: Back to Northern California in May/June

Job: Who knows? I have leads and contacts all over the place in SF, so I hope that I will have no real down time. Gotta pay my bills! :-(

Health: On a new health regimen, good food, exercise and hopefully weight loss!

Culture shock will be moving back with my old roomie. Even if that is temporary, it's going to be very different.



Donna