Shag carpeting and harvest gold goodness.

So after a day packed with apartment hunting, we have discovered that the nicest apartment in town appears to be ours. Allow me to elaborate on our current situation a little...

Last year our apartment complex came, very abruptly, under new management. The new manager raised our rent significantly, and was generally unpleasant to do business with. In the past this complex always had a warm, community feel, and with the change in management it was clear that they thought of us as paying customers, and little else. Luis and I were frustrated, but we figured it would blow over. Nope. After a year of periodically getting really mad at the whole situation, we decided that instead of signing another years' lease, we'd just move. We figured that we could be spending less money, as we both think it's ridiculous to pay a whole lot to rent someplace, so we figured we'd have a look and see what else is available in the Missoula market.

It turns out that the Missoula market stopped generating apartments about four decades ago. Everything cheaper than where we currently live comes equipped with heinous brown shag carpeting and harvest gold or avocado green kitchen appliances. Never in my life have I seen so much fake wood paneling in a single day. Sure, there are nicer places in town, but they run about the same rates as where we currently live, and most of them are new developments where every unit has that same cookie-cutter apartment layout. My least favorite aspect of apartment dwelling is the sameness of everything, and for the same money I'd rather not move into something I like less than our current place.

Our current apartment, aside from the less than ideal management situation, is the perfect apartment. We have an upper level apartment with high vaulted ceilings and heavy, dark wood rafters, a fireplace, large closets, a big covered balcony, and private entry. The complex grounds are beautiful, with a nice pool and a pond, and a family of ducks who have taken up residence here. We've been here four years, and it really does feel like home. At least by looking for something new, Luis and I can feel like we fought back a little bit. And it looks like we're staying put.