So Long South Natomas

My commute is currently about 5 minutes. Sometimes 7 when I try to avoid 1 of the 4 stoplights and get stuck behind a car that doesn't realize it can TURN RIGHT on a RED. Adam Carolla had a hilarious rant about right-turn-on-red drivers, oh how I miss that show. Anyway back to the commute. 7 minutes, give or take. This happens to be the ONLY consolation for living and working in the ghetto that is South Natomas, a community in the northwest area of Sacramento. We all know crime is everywhere, especially in Sac. But in the 1 year I've lived in this area we've had a burglary at my office and several incidences of crime at my apartment complex including my own vehicle, my only possession worth anything, being vandalized. TWICE. Furthermore w/ several people crammed into one complex trying to save on rent, there are never any open parking spaces for ourselves or our guests forcing some to designate their own parking spaces which may or may not result in a very expensive impound fee. mother#*&%ing tow companies.


These are among a few of the many reasons why we desperately want to leave this area w/out having to find jobs in the bay area or elsewhere. After scouring craigs' for about a month, we opted for a walk-thru in a couple houses on the outskirts of town. 30-40 minute commute for a better living situation is entirely worth it, I now realize. But we got extremely lucky and found an adorable, remodeled 1920's house in west sacramento, in a unique area where the old homes share the neighborhood with a skyscraper and a pyramid building. The house for me defines maturity, and is the first place I've ever been excited to live in. Instead of settling for the housing that was just what I could afford, instead of getting a roomate to share expenses, I am choosing this place because it suits me. And I am feeling incredibly privileged to have the option in such a rough economy. I only wish the move-in date were sooner than 1 month from now! I'm so excited I want to drive by every day and sneak pictures from my iphone to swoon over all night. I want to sleep on its vintage little porch. I will actually have a porch! Yes... you could say I have a bit of a crush on this house.


One of the best parts about moving is no longer subscribing to the South Natomas police crime blog, although I really do have to hand it to the police for their impressive take-downs. Go female cops btw... I could never do that job. And not to say there won't be crime in my new neighborhood, but I'm willing to bet I won't be awakened by arrests outside my bedroom window, gunshots, or ghetto birds. Llookin forward to that! Especially now that it's summer and ghetto teens have nothing better to do than burglarize people's cars. So long foolio's! Hah.


While my work situation won't change for a while and regretfully I won't be able to avoid this area between 8 and 5pm Mon-Fri, how sweet it will be to drive away from it every day across the river to a welcoming neighborhood where I will love my neighbors, they'll love me, and I'll park whereever I damn well please.