Heisei 24

or 3 years from now. That, as it turns out, is when the old Fukuma teacher's housing (or juutaku for those in the know) is destined to be demolished. Which is why they didn't bother to tell me. Cause, you know, it's 3 YEARS from now.

There's a lesson in all this somewhere, about loose lips or the dangers of second hand rumors etc.

I eagerly await the day that I am the SOLE resident of the entire apartment complex.

Bye-bye Fukuma?

How odd things work out the way they do. There was some talk about me moving to Hakata, an idea which is seeming more and more remote, due in part to some real estate laws where I would have to live (at least on paper) with my grandmother for a year, or some such. More complicated than it's worth, plus I get the feeling I'd get sucked into some sort of family stuff, which I have scrupulously avoided these last 3 years. Not that I don't like my family. But I enjoy my semi-hikikomori/hermit status.

So here I was, ready to live here another year (and possibly another after that). But I just heard that this place, this dear old, decrepit apartment, is on the chopping block (or wrecking ball, as the case may be). I had heard rumors to that effect, but today was the first semi-confirmation I got.

It's all second-hand knowledge. My co-ALT, who is moving, had to go with some school office people to see what needed to be tossed due to years of ALTs leaving their crap for their successors. It was there that the office people mentioned the impending destruction of the apartment, and consequent move to...

Kasuya! Though the geography means nothing to those unfamiliar to this neck of Japan, it would mean an hour commute by train/bike to and from school.

Allow me to make a big hrrrmm....

OK, so the travel time doesn't really bother me, even though it will mean having to wake up and leave an hour earlier. And to be honest, it will free me up from a bunch of things here which eat away at my beloved me-time, so that's a bonus.

But it's likely that I will have to foot the bill for the move.

Honestly, I don't know how to feel about it, but as a person who has a bad tendency to nest, I think I'm looking forward to the forced change.

To move or not to move...

That is indeed the question that has occupied my mind for the last little while. Some history.

Many moons ago, my grandmother owned a house near Hakata Station. That house was torn down to make room for an apartment building, and in compensation, my grandmother got 4 apartments in perpetuity, whose rent would be substantially lower than similar places in the area.

Those 4 apartments have stayed in my family for a good many years. Last year, my cousin and his family moved out of one of them, and the apartment has remained unoccupied since then. Earlier on this year, specifically when my dad came for his early-March visit, the idea was brought up that I should take that apartment.

So I've been weighing the pros and cons:

PROs: Downtown location. Proximity to relatives.

CONs: Smaller. Higher rent. Higher transportation costs. Longer commute time.

So far, the cons outweigh the pros right? But the first pro, location is weighted significantly higher in my opinion. Life would really be a LOT more convenient living there, despite the overall higher cost of living. But really, that's to be expected considering that I'd be moving from the burbs to the city. People who came to visit me would not have to "enjoy" an additional 35-40 minute trip AFTER they've completed a grueling flight over the Pacific. Staying late in town would be a viable possibility as I could WALK home from Tenjin and environs.

This would also set me up in the near run for a place to live after my JET contract expires. I still intend, as of now, to renew for a 5th, but it'll be good to know that I'll not have to look for a place afterward.

Of course, there would be some associated hazards as well. McDonald's, KFC, Mr. Donuts, Yodobashi, all dangerous temptations to me.

Still, this is something I must consider very carefully...