i had a conversation with someone in my last semester about the relative merits of remaining with my current job, earning a state employee’s wage (which this person equated to a sort of voluntary carrboro hippie stoicism) versus pursuing the financial and material perks that come from earning a corporate RTP premium (which this person probably equated with real normal adult life).

money is very definitely the primary “reason” that most people work. either to pay bills from month to month, to pursue material wealth for show, status, and comfort (read: being a good american), or to move up in the salary hierarchy compared to neighbors and coworkers. none of these are wrong per se, and most everyone feels one or all of those things at one point or another.

but it bothers me that i might inadvertently fall into one of these states, that i don’t really have any plan (yet) to work towards or measure my progress.

i’m back in chapel hill. i need to find a new place to live. “need” being underscored by the fact that my lease runs out on june 31.

today i looked at what was described as an “efficiency” apartment on McCauley Street. the first thing i notice is the spacious kitchen with new appliances. then a small living room with couch, futon and closet. then bathroom. but where is the bedroom? there is no bedroom. it’s just a dorm room with a nice kitchen and shower. ugh! i want one more room. i want a place to put a couch.

drove around davie circle with melanie, found a “charming two bedroom cottage” for sale. $188,000. i think that’s a lot of money. a ten year mortgage without any interest would require monthly payments greater than $1500.

seems like 306-1 McCauley may not have been snatched up while I was in Cambodia. I definitely need to get on that.