(top floor of a triple decker--what do they call those things in Boston?)

Cambridge rents are always obscene in comparison to anything else that isn't Boston. That's why Somerville is getting Buffistafied gentrified. It used to be a very blue collar town. It's still very mixed, and is both ethnically and economically diverse, now. When I was growing up, it was different. Generally, people jokingly referred to Somerville as Slummerville.

Then just cry, sweetie.

Sometimes that's really necessary and you feel better afterwards.

That's why Somerville is getting Buffistafied gentrified.

The friend I was hanging out with last night was saying that he wants to get the hell out of Somerville for this reason. So many Cambridge people are moving/have moved there. According to him, "If I wanted to live in Cambridge, I'd have moved to Cambridge."

Somerville is actually pretty 'spensive these days. At least to buy. Thus, here we are in Salem.

Actually... Tom picked me up from class Monday night and we went to Redbones and Downtown Liquors and he was saying how hard it was to leave Somerville, for him. I have it a lot easier because I still go to Cambridge every day for work. Bit he's... very isolated. Even more so than he used to be.

Fucking broke my heart, it did. We both have regrets about buying when and where we did. Sigh.

Oh, vw, I'm so sorry. Have you done all the stupid stuff yet, like shower, dress, etc.? Sometimes busy-work helps me through hard times.

The friend I was hanging out with last night was saying that he wants to get the hell out of Somerville for this reason. So many Cambridge people are moving/have moved there. According to him, "If I wanted to live in Cambridge, I'd have moved to Cambridge."

Somerville is actually pretty 'spensive these days. At least to buy. Thus, here we are in Salem.

It truly is. I can't believe my eyes when I skim the papers. But it's got everything. It's close enough to the city to have good public transit. I never saw it coming, but once it started happening, it made complete sense.

I'm so sad for Tom, now. Salem is a really cool town, though. In fact, as a lifelong areaista, I'd chose Salem over Somerville (the closest I've lived to Somerville is South Medford; the closest I've lived to Salem is the Wenham/Beverly line, but I've been there a lot). I hope you two either fall unexpectedly in love with it, or find yourselves able to move to wherever you'd like to go.

{{{vw}}}

Yeah, that's not a bad price. Although, I don't know much about the neighborhood, so...

Sounds like it's either the Quincy Adams or Braintree T stop from the general description (and the Blue Hills reference). Not a bad area from what little I know of it. Could be very suburbun though. And, yeah, the price isn't bad. I'm paying 900 in Salem for what is considered a two bedroom, though the second bedroom is tiny (and has other problems - makes a dandy library though), and that doesn't include (oil) heat or (electric) hot water (the oil is definitely the pricier of the two), so, when everything shakes out after the winter (and after using my air conditioner in the summer) it's probably closer to 1000-1100.

I am home from work today. My cold was getting worse and I felt feverish last night.

Sorry to hear that Nora. I was going to regale you with tales of Spamalot on the train this morning. Maybe Friday (I'm taking tomorrow off as a personal day).

Have you done all the stupid stuff yet, like shower, dress, etc.?

Normally I shower after walking Toto at 9am. But, Not!Emily was in the bathroom, so I did dishes instead. Then I got all angry and started crying and haven't been able to do much since. I did just eat, though.

I think I may go try to take a nap, then start over. I've got plans tonight, so I just need to make it till then.

Best wishes vw, and I hope you find a good place.

I'm so sad for Tom, now. Salem is a really cool town, though. In fact, as a lifelong areaista, I'd chose Salem over Somerville (the closest I've lived to Somerville is South Medford; the closest I've lived to Salem is the Wenham/Beverly line, but I've been there a lot).

I totally know where Tom's coming from. Between college, and the first 10 years after, I lived in Kenmore Square, the Fenway, or Brookline-bordering-Allston for close to a decade and a half. Moving to Salem was to suddenly be very much not in the middle of things. I like Salem a lot (and a lot of the surrounding towns that aren't Lynn), but it took some getting used to.

I'm so sad for Tom, now. Salem is a really cool town, though.

Yes. And he does love the garden and the commute and the BeerWorks, but I totally understand his feeling isolated.

I want to start getting involved in community stuff, and maybe coordinate with the couple that just moved next to us (another Brit-American couple) with doing a double open house/neighborhood block party type of thing.

Some of it also is adjusting to married social life. Which is a whole weird and subtle thing, but was definitely made less subtle when we moved.

He's been pretty depressed since we bought the house, and I feel hella guilty about it, because I love the house, and love Salem, and I feel like I pushed him into this. Which, no, I didn't really, but it's my tendency to blame myself for stuff when I see people I care about hurting.

And it's not that Tom wants to live the urban hipster life in the big city, or anything. He's a homebody and putterer, but this move stirred up a LOT of stuff for him, that he's just now beginning to process. So, we'll work it out.

I've never been to Massachusettes, but I would far rather live in Salem than Sommerville.