Pinch Me

It was only the second place we looked through last weekend. It had only been listed for 11 days when we walked through its front door.

But yesterday we signed a lease that made us Chicago residents.



{images: these are the shots posted on the MLS website that tempted us to walk through the place}

There are so many things we love about it, not the least of which is a {drum roll please...}spot in an ATTACHED  PARKING GARAGE that is included in the rent! I'm sure from the pictures it's obvious that it is a wee little condo (just about 950 square feet). But we're gladly giving up square footage for the following:

• A corner unit on the 7th floor with nobody above us and only one shared wall
• Views of Soldier Field (Go Bears!) and Lake Michigan from the living room
• Hardwood floors throughout
• A double vanity in the bathroom and a separate shower and tub (translation: when I don't use the tub I don't have to clean the tub)
• A garbage disposal (oh how I've missed having a garbage disposal) 
• A washer and dryer INSIDE our unit - not inside our building, inside our apartment. It's right there in a closet outside the bedroom.
• We're less than a mile from Mecca Trader Joe's.
• There's a sushi place at the end of the block.
• We're less than a block from a bus line and blocks from the train.
• It's on a quiet street and we've already made a "friend" in the building.
• Wait, did I mention there's an attached parking garage?

Now, I anticipate some growing pains as we transition into a much more "urban" lifestyle. But I'm certainly up for the challenge. And honestly, I'm just still kind of amazed that nearly every item on our wish list is included in this place. I mean really, does that even happen?

Any tips on how to comfortably transition into a place with half of the square footage you are accustomed to?