I have not moved since May of 2002, when I settled into my current apartment (which, if you’ve been following along for awhile will know has been in my family since 1966). During college I moved nearly every six months and always thought that I’d be the sort of person who’d live in several different places during her twenties. And yet, here I am heading for six years in one place with no plans to leave any time soon.

This is not to say that I wouldn’t like to live someplace else. During the summer I find myself longing for outdoor space. I frequently think about how much I’d like to have a cat, something that’s totally outlawed in my building. And sometimes running the gauntlet of multiple doors, security guards, elevators and the elderly just to get home feels totally exhausting.

But I’m also spoiled by my living situation. It’s a great location. If something breaks, it’s easy to get it fixed. It’s really comfortable. I’m always as warm in the winter and as cool in the summer as I want. And the apartment has a certain amount of power over me because it has been in my family for so long. The idea of not having it, of turning it over to strangers is hard to fathom.

I tagged along with Roz today as she looked at houses around South Philly which is part of why I’m pondering my living situation, although it’s an issue that never sifts too far down from the surface of my brain. It was really interesting to get a chance to see what’s available out there and has me tossing options around in my head.