since i moved to the east bay, i’ve been having a hard time finding a place to live, which is odd, cuz i thought it would be easier than san francisco. the absolute highlights of my stay so far in the east bay, though?

place #1:
beautiful house in berkeley, 20 minutes walk from downtown berkeley, this summer. additional building behind the house, slightly attached, rooms, bathroom and kitchen over a music studio. music studio barely used.
very happily married couple, obviously berkeley-ites. he was in a “the who” cover band, and she painted pictures of dolphins and constellations, sometimes dolphins surrounded by constellations, in their 50s, but both had very young energy. i really liked the situation, energy, they were positive, open-minded, but very live and let live, very giving, but respecting of privacy, they had their own life in the front house. it was only a 2 months sublet, sadly.

place #2:
i stayed with a friend for a couple months earlier this year. not a good area of oakland at all, but both in their 40s, the social worker of the bunch a self-confessed hippie, her room bedecked in day-glo and pictures of the grateful dead. incredible people, very giving, good energy, but in a live and let live way, respecting your need for space. despite the close quarters, i felt incredibly comfortable there, the energy was perfect

place #3:
i saw a place last night in kensington, almost on the berkeley border. very similar situation. self-confessed hippies, most likely in their 50s. she is the personal assistant to a famous latina actress from the 50s. they are both jazz singers, burned a cd for me while i was there, gave it to me. her artwork was everywhere, in the backyard patio, next to the hot tub, on his suspenders. incredible energy, very giving, loving, but wanted someone who was independent to live in their in-law with the sliding glass door room that opened onto the heavily green patio. respectful of privacy, though they put their arms around each other and sang a disney song while waving to me goodbye, telling me to be safe, worried about me walking to the bus stop alone in the dark. great energy, but i unfortunately can’t take it because she babysits 3/4 of the time the latina actress’s very yappy wienerdog, and me and yappy dogs don’t get along…

but i think i’m hitting on something here.

so, with my next craigslist post, do i say, “hey, i am only interested in responses from happily married hippie couples now, because i want to live in an in-law in your awesomely creative house, because i really like your energy”? =)