This week marks the tenth anniversary of me living in my current home. Part of me finds that really hard to believe, part of me is not surprised at all. Although we will probably move in the next year I think we have been pretty happy here, even with all the issues that goes with living in a large condo complex. By LA standards, we have a relatively large living space, nice on site amenities, nearby parks, and most importantly, a convenient location. By the time we leave this may be the home where I have lived the longest in my life.
Eric, Amy, me and the late 90s version of my home. I thought about getting Amy and Eric to come over to recreate this photo 10* years later but they probably have better things to do on their wedding anniversary.
I moved into our home in August 1998. My first roommate was actually my sister, who came down from Oregon a month before returning to college. When she went back to school, a friend of mine from college moved in. He was going to graduate school at UCLA while I was at USC. After two years he moved out and Shanna moved in (who was also going to graduate school at UCLA). Prior to living here, Shanna lived across the street in a similar place.
It is amazing how much the neighborhood has changed in the past ten years. This is not what you would think of as a classic gentrificated neighborhood, like downtown or Echo Park. When I moved in the population was predominately African-American although surprisingly mezzuzot were not uncommon on the doorways (also a Jewish cemetary is nearby). There absolutely were not any Asians, perhaps due to colossally bad feng shui (again the cemetary). Today there is tremdous diversity. A few weeks ago, I saw people playing cricket in the park. I can't even imagine that ten years ago.
* This photo is actually probably from 1999 but it was the best I could do.
You guys had a party and we danced to swing music. Shanna was in-between places to live and I remember spending the night on your floor.
That was my introduction to your apartment. Wow, 10 years in that apartment - you're driving the same car too :)
*I think I spent the next day helping Shanna move her stuff. We rented a uHaul and Shanna bent a street sign backwards with the truck at her apartment with Sarah (well, it was a rental).