Why I am moving out!

wow. a lot of people asked why I am leaving. wanna hear it? here it goes...

Ok the primary and most important reason for my leaving the apartment is that the utility costs are much higher than the estimate, and I no longer feel this apartment is worth what I pay.

It was maybe worth the base rent of $500, but with the utilities I feel like I am being cheated. Well, not cheated. That isn’t fair. A deal is a deal. Now that I know all of the details, the apartment is simply not worth the money and I am not sure I would continue to have a positive relationship with my landlady.

I have a twin sized bed. True, there is another twin bed right next to it, but they are different heights and no matter what people try to say, two twin beds pushed together do NOT equal a queen or king or anything comfortable.

I do not have a tv in my room, as promised so the only place for me to watch tv is from the folding chair or the wooden porch swing. Also, my landlady does not speak any Spanish, so as a shared tv in the computer room, when she is there it has to be English only.

Upon my return from Playa Blanca, I felt that her way of dealing with our business was passive aggressive and that is not just something I care for. I understand wanting things written, but I do not like when people talk to me one day about superficial nonsense, then the next day leave haughty notes laced with attitude (when I am in the apt). I did ask her about it, in case I misunderstood her tone, but her flippant oh-I-was-in-a-rush-girl-I didn’t-know-if-you-were-awake so I left a note told me I did not misread. No one in a rush writes a one-page letter. She is nice and has introduced me to great people. I would rather leave on good terms. I can see myself growing to resent her and despite my rant that follows, I know that she means well and is a good person.

I initially wanted to live in El Cangrejo, so that is where I am looking. Marbella has fun things, but to be honest, it is too hot to walk la cinta costera and the mall and move theater are lost on me. When I move, they are a short $1.50 cab ride away.

I have already looked at 2 apartments less than $550 (includes everything) where guests are welcome without hassle and include king sized beds, living rooms decorated more to my taste (read: comfy sofas), my own tv, private bathroom, and Spanish speakers.

** rant to follow**
Other important reasons for leaving include:

I still do not have a tv in my room, although she was "handling it", just as there is allegedly supposed to be a set of knives. She doesn't cook and she has a tv in her room, so these things are not important to her. I have been here a month and a half now and my arrival was not a surprise. I am paying to live here, so I would think my needs count too. Since I know neither make nor models, these are not things I can request myself.

My landlady forgets things she says are ok. For example, she said I could use the cd alarm clock. Great! I had it in my room until one day I came home and she was listening to it in the kitchen. She said she wanted to listen to music while she cooked, but I could have it back. Umm ok. Why tell me I can use it if you are going to take it every time you want to use it? Thanks, but no thanks. The more serious example is saying it was fine for me to pay rent when I returned from Playa Blanca, then leaving a note saying my rent is 10 days late (10 bolded and underlined.) ummm… negative. That is just not ok with me.

I feel like when there is a problem in the apartment I have to solve it myself, even if my landlady is here. When we were locked out of the apartment, she went to her friends' place to get the spare key for the maid’s entrance. We were both annoyed that the management company fixed the lock with a malfunctioning and did not even leave keys! She had a meeting with them the next morning and said this would be handled before she left for the US the next day... Well, it wasn’t. When she left she had returned the maid’s entrance key to her friend and had no word from the management company when they would fix the lock. (???? Whhaaat??)This seriously irritated me. What if I was locked out?! no le importa. I called and texted my landlady more than once to get her to leave me the # of her friend in case I got locked out and needed the key, then called the management company myself. Anyway, when I spoke to them they said the lock guy would come. I had to leave, so I demanded his cell phone number, spoke to him about the problems with the lock, and asked him to leave keys at the front desk. He left one key so I am good. Same thing with the stove. I had to call the management company to get someone here to fix it.

So yeah. I am not impressed with anything about this place except the view. Pictures can be deceiving *wink*. I will try to get a sunrise picture and sunset picture before I leave. I will try again to do a short series of video tours rather than one long one. And maybe I will go see another movie lol.