You Say Queens, I Say Brooklyn

We still don't have a place to live. Airbnb is saving us, oh blessed airbnb. It's quite fun to search through other people's apartments online--I think I would use this website as a replacement for hotels in the future. Not that we will ever be able to travel after paying rent here.

Our last application was declined because we are students. Landlord doesn't want students. Landlord only wants fixed income. We were declined in the past because we had kids. Um....discrimination, people. It's alive and well. We have started becoming very upfront and bold (for lack of a better word) about our approach with realtors and landlords. "WE ARE A STUDENT FAMILY. WE HAVE KIDS. WE ARE WHITE. WE ARE RELIGIOUS. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE THINGS, YOU MAY KINDLY TELL US BEFORE WE GO THROUGH YOUR RIDICULOUS APPLICATION PROCESS."

I should feel worried and I don't. I should feel a little more concerned about the future and I'm not.

On the plus side, we've had the opportunity to stay in many different neighborhoods around the city. Neighborhoods are characterized by their ethnic population, as I've mentioned, so it's been a great experience to see so many different kinds of food, clothes and customs all within a few miles of each other. Right now we are a few minutes away from Laguardia airport and spent the evening in Little India, plus there is a strong Colombian influence. This place is truly, truly fascinating.

Jacob and I go back and forth about where we should live. I am still deeply in love with a neighborhood in Brooklyn called Windsor Terrace, and he's been hunting around up here all week near the airport. I honestly don't care where we are as long as I feel like it's the right place for our family. And it's safe. And the school is good. And I can do laundry and buy food without an act of congress. But really I don't care that much.

Comments

Jennifer Walker said…
Thank you for sharing these little insights into your current life. I feel like I'm there with you. I wish.
July 19, 2015 at 2:04 PM
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