Toa Payoh, you will be missed. 

Landlady needs the room back. She said to take my time to find a new place, but when pressed further, she decided on end of May.

So propertyguru shall be my new best friend for the next half a month or so. Good thing I have been searching for a while and have a rough idea of what I want.

Still, never felt more vulnerable. And I realized I have taken this stability over the last 4 years for granted. Yes, it has never escaped me for one day that I am living under someone else's roof, but somehow it didn't occur to me how easily that they can take it back. And I had the nerve to tell my mum that there's nothing wrong with the idea of renting a place. 

Never wanted a place of my own so badly till now. But...no money. Yet.

Oh well. Thanks for giving me the push I needed to move on. Relieving me of the need to make my first move, to explain myself etc. In a way it plays into my hand, just that the timing wasn't what I have in mind. 

The search is on (for real)!

It was a point when I realized that while I would have very much preferred to stay together as a group...it is just too idealistic and there was no point soldiering on. After splitting up...I suppose everybody felt the freedom in choosing something that only suits their own needs rather than as a group. Juggling room/house hunting while working is not something I want to do in the near future though. Seriously tiring to hunt and arrange for viewing after work...I ended up arranging for 8 room viewings over 4 days...all within the kallang/whampoa and Toa Payoh area. Though out of the 8, only the first and the last three are worth considering.

First one was a nice new unit...very nice room too, has everything I am looking for in a room (including large window panels with plenty of sunlight entering the room)..had issues with the price and to a certain extent, owners. Although looking back, this would have been a close second choice..the agent was pressuring me to make a decision within a couple of days and constantly lowered the price when I highlighted that price was an issue (advertised 850, when I went there she said 900 instead and very reluctantly say will consider 850. Thought that it might not be easy to live with...and had I not managed to find a second potential room I might have just succumb to it. But I did.

Second, third and forth and fifth are not really worth mentioning...three of them mediocre and one of them was good but had to share with other new tenants which I was unwilling to (and expensive too). 6th one kind of changed everything. Didn't have high expectations after the previous failures and the fact that the exterior is really old (based on my knowledge of my own area I try to go for the newer blocks as much as possible and this one accidentally made my shortlist). First impression is always most important though, and owner made hers count..warm and friendly owner. Unit and room was in good condition despite its age (though it still can't beat the first one) and had everything I looked for (air con and Internet). And to top it off its location is really good. Kind of had my mind set on it though it felt really wrong to sign on the spot and I have arranged for a couple more viewings anyway.

7th and 8th were both decent, but each had its own disadvantages - #7 is a family with 4 kids and #8 is a bachelor's pad which isn't exactly the environment I was looking for. So that night itself, texted agent to confirm the room. Signed the very next day, owner was apologetic as she thought the price was a factor that kept me from signing immediately (which wasn't, really, I thought the price is very acceptable for the location). Somewhat had to pay agents fee (coz I contacted him for another unit, which wasn't suitable and he recommended another unit, in a way acting on my behalf). 

Then there was packing...which was tiring. Threw away lots of stuff which I know now with my working life, I would never need/touch them. Then there was the shifting...only confirmed mover two days before, thought of a brilliant idea (I still think its brilliant) or renting just a truck since I can drive legally...can make unlimited trips at our own pace rather than rushing. Too bad truck companies are usually not open on Sunday and we would have to collect the truck on sat and return on Monday...with all parking charges etc urgh. Anyway..settled in finally...made one trip back to the JE unit for the handover. Side note - no point pretending that we are still on friendly terms with you, but I shall just let it go now.

New place has been quite ok so far..the biggest advantage is the location where I slashed traveling time to work by two thirds. Owner was a 70 year old retiree, former nurse and needless to say she takes good care of her house and tenant. Offered to help me do laundry and cleaning my room...which I can't find a good reason to object, and sometimes I do feel a bit guilty too...though she says she don't mind it at all. One thing that's odd though, is how rare I get to actually see her husband and son who are staying in the house as well....both are early risers and come back late...and I usually just stay inside my room when I am around. Recently I haven't been seing my landlady either...her usual habit is to stay in her room and read/knit after her nightly 7pm show...and I usually come back after that (sometimes on purpose). Another thing though, is how I haven't felt completely comfortable in the house even after a month..sometimes something as simple as going toilet/refilling water bottle requires second thought. And i have been spending my first three weekends outside too, sometimes just finding a place to chill and do things i can easily stay in and do. Wonder if it will actually improve soon. 

For now, there is no reason to move out (unless office shifts which there have been rumors of)...until then, think I am pretty happy with the room and the privacy I have somewhat been offered of. 

*edit* I think I kind of figured out why I don't like staying inside the room for too long....reason being it feels like I am being locked up somewhere...I dun want to open the windows/curtains coz it is just next to a corridor and anybody can just walk past and look in. So no sunlight, lack of fresh air even. Feels trapped.