House hunting has begun...

I posted this news on Next Door and Facebook last August: We have to move, you guys! I know, as if Joe and I don't have enough going on. 

Fifteen years we've lived here. And loved it here. But alas, now, sometime in the next year, we have to go. Joe has already started to make plans for a big purge. We have dead electronics taking up space, and we both have collected way too many clothes. Things like that. We have time, we can sort thru and call some charities and junk removal services. But where to? 

I have taken on the task of researching apartments. I have already been doing it for about three months in anticipation, because T gave us a heads-up. I have looked at Dorchester, Roslindale, Medford, Somerville, Dedham, Brighton, Chelsea, Lynn. Jamaica Plain, Salem, Abington and a lot of other towns where there are still rents for around $1900-$2300. 

I have looked at Connecticut. New Haven, Bristol, Southington, Plainville, New Milford, Southbury, Mystic. 

I have looked at Providence. 

I have even looked at Portland, OR. 

Here's what I'm hunting for...and hear me out. We have plenty of time so we're aiming for as many of these parameters as possible. We're realistic--probably not all of these will be met. But we'll try. 

• A city or town with a walkable neighborhood. Joe doesn't drive, and I can't anymore due to the stroke. I haven't owned a car in twenty years anyway. We WALK to get groceries, prescriptions, coffee, the library. (We get some things delivered.) 

• 2 bedrooms. Or a 1 bedroom plus office.

• At least 1000 sq ft. We have a baby grand piano--a small one, but still. It's sentimental. Hate to part with it.

• Not in a building. We did that. We lived on Comm Ave for years. We want to live in a house, 1st or 2nd floor (I can get up to the 2nd floor here just fine, I think 3rd floor is pushing it.) 

• A covered porch. An open porch or patio probably won't work for us. We are both on medication for which we need to stay out of the sun. But we've gotten used to having that sweet outdoor space.

• Anything but electric heat. Oil or gas.  

• Gas range. It's really the only way if you're serious about cooking.

• Washer/dryer, or at least hookups. You would not believe the number of places that have no laundry on site, or have shared coin-op machines. Who has coins these days? We are too old to be schlepping to a laundromat, and by "we" I mean poor Joe who had a heart transplant, and will be 55 in April.

• A kitchen of such a size that two people can occupy it at the same time, and has room for my baker's rack and my kitchen island. On Comm Ave our kitchen was so small you couldn't open the fridge and the oven at the same time. We can't go back to that.

• A living room and dining room, even if it's all one big space.

• Well-rated hospital and docs nearby. I really think we would have lost Joe two years ago if we did not have Tufts. 

We're great tenants. We don't smoke. We don't have pets. We don't need parking. We don't need a yard. We can pay 1st, last, and security. We have excellent credit. We have excellent references. So, let the search go on...🔎