This week my goal is to call those apartment complexes and ask again if there's any availability, although I suspect waiting to rent would be wise. I think the pricing bubble is about stabilize and/or let out some air since rents literally can't go any higher considering average wages in this area. When you're pricing out even the middle class, it means landlords are playing with fire and risking multiple evictions or empty apartments. 

Of course waiting means staying here longer which is driving me nuts. I threw out my back last Monday and it's only just healing, since sitting on the dining room chairs for 10 hours a day is making it worse. There's just no room here, and we are absolutely on top of each other every waking moment. I'm already trading a washer/dryer in house for a laundry room situation again, along with a few other conveniences I have living with my parents, but I'm so ready for it just to have my own space again. It would be a dream to not have them overhear (and comment on) every conversation or criticize the way I work, react, even the way I choose to use my PTO (I took a couple of half days when I thought I would be going to the two concerts in NYC, neither of which happened but I couldn't take the days back. My mom thinks this is wasteful. I told her plans changed, I'm not happy about that either, but it's none of her business how I use my PTO).

The car situation I still have no idea what to do with, but that has to be another bridge I cross when I have to. I just want affordable rent and some peace and quiet - is that so bad?!