Apartment????

So... I'm seriously considering moving into an apartment for the first time. I've done a little looking around over the last couple years, but there was always something in the way of keeping it from being realistic. First I had to get a full time job, then I had to finish school, etc. By the time I'd finished reasonable excuses, I was all gung ho about continuing to live with the parents paying minimal rent and save up for a house.

But, dude, housing of any kind on Long Island is expensive!

It's almost impossible to get any kind of apartment that's more than a closet hole in the wall for less than $1200/month, unless I want to move to the south shore or the city. The city means leaving the suburbs, which is really my comfort zone, and both options mean adding a decent commute to work. Not to mention everything I know. (I've lived in the same house all my life, worked in the same place since I was 17, etc.). I have Aspergers; I don't do change. Following those guidelines, it's just as impossible to get a house for less than $300k (ish) + $10k in taxes.

I've been saving hard, but it's still going to take me at least another 3-5 years to be able to afford a down payment. I love my parents dearly, but I was raised to be more independent than this. Everyone keeps saying it's the smart thing to live with your parents and save - especially in this economy - but I feel like a terrible person for living with my folks at 25.

So, a friend of a friend has an apartment she'd like to rent. Said friend happens to have a friend considering looking for an apartment. This sounds like a good match. So, two and two friends meet at a funeral party and walk out three friends. So I go and check out the apartment.

Overall impression: I could do it. It's not ohmygodimusthavethisplaceitsperfect!, but it's workable and the price is right (oh, so right).

So, friend-people, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to convince me to stop being a baby help me weigh the pros and cons of this little adventure.

Pros

Cons

Independence Great landlord. Normally I'm terrified of people, but I feel very comfortable with this woman. I probably couldn't ask for better. Great price. More room than I currently have. I get to squee like a little girl and decorate it. The bathroom is a lot nicer than most of the other apartments I've seen. Nice storage space. Pet friendly. The landlord has two dogs who like me (and vice versa), which also saves me from having to get my own (I planned to get a guard dog when I moved out to help me feel safe). She also has experience with birds and will not give me grief about mine. The place has just been renovated, so everything's new (or close to everything). I'm still very close to my parents if I need anything. I could probably/maybe walk to work. This is a big pro, because I hate driving.

I won't be able to save up for a house. I will really have to watch what I spend. This will be my first time living alone. I am by nature a huge hermit. Without the rest of my family to provide background noise, I might get even worse and go into people shock everytime I leave the house. I've been known to stop talking without people forcing me into regular conversations (see previous comment about Aspergers). Did you ever see The Net? I might become Sandra Bullock. The apartment isn't that big, even for an apartment. I'm used to living in a house. I might get claustrophobic. It's a basement apartment, which means the only windows are little half-size things near the top of the walls, so very little natural light. This could also be a problem for the birds. No A/C. No window to put an A/C unit in. I might get one of those portable things, which means one less window in a place with few enough already. And they're very noisy. Can't walk to the gym, which while minor, but may actually mean I go less. I'm weird that way and I know me. My mommy won't be around to cook for me. :P LOL. Yeah, I know, suck it up. This is a weak one. After 15 (20?) years of resisting ceiling fans (they're evil, I say!), I finally caved a couple months ago and bought one for my room. And Oh. My. God. I've been converted. How have I never allowed myself one before??? Well, now that I've been converted, I can't have one. No room in this apartment. Directly relating to the one above, very low ceilings. Maybe 6.5 feet. The birds are going to freak out being in a new place. Plus they lose people contact too.

Well, these seem to be the big issues. Now I'm going to ponder. And ponder. I'm very indecisive. Help me, people! Please!