I was shocked. Why would anyone move out of a rent controlled apartment in a great neighborhood?
Maybe he or his girlfriend got some killer job? I rode my bike over to their place and on the steepest part of their street, there on the sidewalk I saw a familiar couch. I locked up my bike and just as I was about to text my friend to tell him I was here I saw him crossing the street. He must have been bringing some stuff to his car.
We went inside the apartment and as we walked up the stairs to the fourth floor he told me how his landlord was raising his rent to $4000. He wasn't an original tenant on the lease but he had been paying rent for the last twelve years. They could go to court but before the court date whenever that would be, they would still have to pay the 4G rent. They were moving to the south bay to live in his girlfriend's parents unoccupied house. "Score!" I said eagerly.
Then my friend said "Well not quite. "Out of the six weeks we've been there, the parents have been there four."
"Ouch"
When we got to his empty apartment I was amazed how spacious it was. I noticed the high ceilings and empty closets. It got morning sun and afternoon sun and had a nice view to the west. It was a great apartment. His girlfriend was in the kitchen cleaning out the refrigerator. She told me how she had started gardening at her parents house. I gave her some tips on growing carrots.
After hanging out for a while he had to get back to cleaning. I said my goodbyes to both of them and walked down the stairs for the last time. I thought about how we never did watch "Marketa Lazarova"
Yesterday I had to mail something and needed to check an address. I went through my old address book and counted 34 friends who had moved out of the city. It probably explains why I eat so many burritos see so many movies by myself.
If there were such a thing as a transporter like on Star Trek and it accepted a Clipper card, I'd be happy.
