The Roommate Carousel goes round and round...

[AccountingDrone]

Due to our recent history of douchebag roommates, not only are we demanding a deposit, but references as well. I am sick of getting screwed over!

*sigh* I hate this shit.

Good luck, and definitely don't feel bad about requesting references and a deposit - it is just a good precaution. And I agree, the ones wihtout a job in the area sound hinky to me!

[Jester]

...don't feel bad about requesting references and a deposit - it is just a good precaution.

Who said I feel bad about it? I have been far too nice for far too long, to be honest, and I should have learned years ago from experiences before the last two douchebags not to be so damn trusting. The only thing I feel bad about is that it took me so long to do this. And that I was so damn stupid with Deadbeat. Who, incidentally, is still incarcerated. As is the dirtbag roommate before him. (Ironically, though their cases are completely unrelated, they have upcoming court dates on consecutive days.)

[SG15Z]

Well I would but I'd have to get a new job, and, um I think that's it. Then again I don't want to leave the Houston area. For one we have far less hurricanes than Florida . That and I have friends and family here I don't want to leave. Although I do want to move out of my parents house into my own place, I just can't find a reliable roommate to get an apartment with. Seems we both have similar issues.

[Jester]

Today the Carousel was very active. Maybe it's something in the air. Or maybe it's something about Tuesdays.

In any case, in non-sequential order for dramtic sake, here was today's casting call:

Dude who had emailed me and called me a few days ago, who I had called back but got no response from, emailed me again. It won't work with him, as he won't be in Key West until October 7th. Rent is due on the 1st, no later than the 5th, and frankly, Mr. Anti-Social would prefer the situation to be settled before then. It wouldn't have worked anyways, as he was looking for a place with a garage or a shed, and we live in an apartment....with neither. Good luck finding a place in KW with either, frankly.

New dude called me from Chicago to ask about the place. We talked for a bit, but once he revealed he would not be in KW until October 5th....well, see above.

A girl came in to the bar for lunch with a local I know. As we were talking, it came out that she lived in mainland Florida, but was looking for a place down here. Of course, I have a place for rent. We both got very excited. Problem: She has a LOT of furniture. Not just a bedroom set, which we could deal with. Also a living room set, etc. Lots of stuff. Big stuff. Also, she was getting on the road to go back home before I would be getting off work. I am not eliminating her as a possibility, but she is a long shot. Luckily, we both know it, so neither of us are counting on the other. On a good note, she may be getting a place in my complex, and if she does, she will (hopefully) use my name as a reference (since I asked her to), as this would give me a rental discount for a month. (Yes, I told her this. I am very open.)

Yet another dude called me and left a message for me on my cell while I was at work. On the message he inquired about the amount of the deposit we are requiring. An hour after he called, I noticed it, and called him back, and got his voice mail. I left him a message, telling him the amount of the deposit, and that I was at work, so would not be able to really talk on the phone until after I got done, around 5 or 6. He called back about 15 minutes later (around 3), but as I was working, could not get it. He did not leave a message. When I got off work, I called him. Got his voice mail. Left a message. Have not heard from him. Phone Tag is ON.

Weirdness Factor Winner: Phone rings tonight. I answer it. Dude asking about the place. I tell him my name, ask for his. Doesn't understand. I say again, "Sir, my name is Jester. You are?" And then he answers: "Shirley." Pause. Whoops! That woman had a deeper voice than mine, and I have a healthy baritone going on. Trying to muddle through, I continue with the conversation as best I can, explaining the situation we have here....the apartment, the roommates, where we are in town. Very shortly into this, Shirley says, "Okay, thank you." And hangs up. Um....okay. No explanation, no "I'll get back to you," nothing. Oh well, probably for the best....since I called her "sir."

So, shortly after I get off work, while enjoying a cold one with a friend of mine and his new girlfriend, my cell goes off. I answer it, it's a dude asking about the room for rent. I tell him about it, offer to show it to him tonight, as he lives in town. He agrees, but has no transportation, as his bike was just stolen. (Neither the lack of a car nor the bike theft are at all uncommon in KW.) I offer to pick him up on my way home, as he lives between where I was and where I lived. He agrees, and I pick him up, and we head to my place. We are chatting the whole way, he seems like a nice enough fellow, he likes the living situation, despite not being downtown (transportation situation can be remedied, after all--and I gave him a number for a guy who sells refurbished bicycles), and we chat for a bit more, discussing specifics. And I ask him for references. And this is where it got weird. Weird in a good way.

Again, out of order:

Second reference he gave me is a musician in town. Cool enough guy, has played at The Bar many times, but considering my recent experience with musicians, not counting on this guy as reliable.

Third reference he gives me is another musician, but an older gentleman, very nice guy, I've known him for years. This is a very solid reference, in my opinion.

But the big one was the first reference he gave me: my boss. The general manager of The Bar. Apparently, he's done some [work that he does] for my boss many times over the last year.

Yeah. I'd say my fucking boss that I've worked for for the last two and a half years and who I'd walk through a brick wall for is a pretty damn good reference.

So, I haven't made any decisions, but I have three good possibilities, and just need to sit down and talk to Mr. Anti-Social about the pros and cons of the three (and anyone else who comes through in the next couple days or so), but I am hoping to have this whole thing wrapped up by the weekend.

Yay me!

[Akasa]

Sounds good Jester!

[Rapscallion]

Weirdness Factor Winner: Phone rings tonight. I answer it. Dude asking about the place. I tell him my name, ask for his. Doesn't understand. I say again, "Sir, my name is Jester. You are?" And then he answers: "Shirley." Pause. Whoops! That woman had a deeper voice than mine, and I have a healthy baritone going on. Trying to muddle through, I continue with the conversation as best I can, explaining the situation we have here....the apartment, the roommates, where we are in town. Very shortly into this, Shirley says, "Okay, thank you." And hangs up. Um....okay. No explanation, no "I'll get back to you," nothing. Oh well, probably for the best....since I called her "sir."

Shirley as a name for a man.

Rapscallion

[Jester]

Shirley as a name for a man.

I should point out that Shirley wasn't actually the name they gave me. Rather, it was a name that, from my experience, has never been a man's name. Ever. I was just using a pseudonym for this person.

In any case, it was....strange.

[sms001]

Must. Resist... Temptation. To... Report. Raps. For... Excessive... Quoting.




Out of curiosity Jester, is Key West an area with noticeable cycles of renting? I lived in a college town for many years and the pattern there was obvious, but I've lived other places where people came and went with the weather, or certain kinds of job availability, etc. Just wondering. And fingers crossed one of your three works out!

[Jester]

Out of curiosity Jester, is Key West an area with noticeable cycles of renting? I lived in a college town for many years and the pattern there was obvious, but I've lived other places where people came and went with the weather, or certain kinds of job availability, etc. Just wondering. And fingers crossed one of your three works out!

Not really any discernible pattern, other than some more people do come down here to live for "season." But season is not all that clearly defined, and people dome down here all the time--it's a very transient town. And that's half the problem....so many damn flakes down here! Honestly, I cannot believe the number of people I've talked to or met in the last few months who, during a bad economy, MOVE to an expensive place like Key West, and THEN go about trying to find a job. Methinks they have it backwards. That's why it was so refreshing to meet a girl the other day who was down here looking for a JOB so that she COULD find a place to live and move down here. Call me crazy (and many people have), but that seems like the more rational way to go about it.

Wait....rational....Key West.....nevermind!

In the latest update, we had decided to go with the guy who knew my boss, and I called him this morning to let him know that. And we were talking about a couple of minor issues, when something major revealed itself to us: he thought he'd be moving in in NOVEMBER, whereas we are trying to fill the place by OCTOBER. Since neither Mr. Anti-Social nor myself really want to pay 50% more in rent in October, we are doing everything we can to get the room filled for that time period. So, our first choice--wheee!!! out the window.

Before I could even call our second choice, I got yet another call about the room from a girl in mainland Florida....calling for her boyfriend. I have to wonder about a guy that can't even call about a room for rent for himself, but I guess since they are coming to Key West to look at places this weekend, if he was working, it would make sense to have someone more available make such calls. I told the girlfriend that we had decided on someone else, but to give me a call anyway when they got down here, because if something happens or #2 flakes out or doesn't get me the money....well, it's good to keep your options open.

So I called our second choice (the woman with the justice system job) and told her the place would be hers. Now she just has to get me the move in money. In this town, nothing's guaranteed until cash is in hand or the check clears!

I also called the gay couple to let them know of our decision, but also to tell them that if the woman flakes out or something happens, I'll call them. I wished them well in their search--they seemed really nice--and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, this is the end of it. At least for the time being.

I am so completely sick of the process of finding a roommate.

In other news, while craigslist worked brilliantly for this endeavor, it is sucking great big hairy balls at finding me a buyer for the really nice acoustic guitar I have for sale. I am getting nothing but scam attempts. Not one honest inquiry yet. So....anyone want to buy a lovely acoustic guitar? If so, I'll PM you the details.

Now, if you'll excuse me, my name is being called rather loudly by various alcoholic substances residing in downtown bars!

[Becks]

I would gladly take the guitar off your hands...if I knew how to play.