I have been renting for the last 3 years and I love it. I think if I were renting a house instead of an apartment, I'd feel different. I also have an excellent management company that takes care of so much.

Ai Weiwei has been released on bail.

From the Article:

China's foreign ministry previously said that Mr Ai was under investigation for "economic crimes".

It insisted that his arrest - which came amid one of China's biggest clampdowns on activists in years and was condemned by Western governments - had "nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression".

Bulldozing the guys studio and locking him up in an undisclosed location with no access to a lawyer for a coupleafew months sure SOUNDS like tax evasion...

::glares at China::

I'm also still bitter about the whole having to sell the house during the worst of the housing market downturn, so never mind me.

Yeah, Suzi, I'm sure you're like "been there, done that" but I am really sick of having to move from places I adore because of landlords dying (that has happened 3 times!).

Java, I find owning a home less stressful than the housing co-operative I was living in.

I am so OVER this coop thing. I've only been on the board three years and I'm itching to flee to the suburbs where my house will be MINE and not 1/12th of a building co-owned by 11 other families. I get enough of that shit with my family summer place - in my generation, there are 21 grandchildren who will inherit. It's going to be ugly.

I have an onerous task. It is writing the last 3rd of the talk I am giving on Saturday. It is hard; I'm trying to say some complicated stuff I don't understand fully, in a clear and concise manner. It makes me realize how very very little of what I do at work is actually hard, or even mildly challenging. I guess this is why they don't pay me the big bucks.

I get enough of that shit with my family summer place - in my generation, there are 21 grandchildren who will inherit. It's going to be ugly.

In a situation like that, I'd put the deed into a trust with an objective trustee who could handle booking the family calendar to share time in it. That would be INSANE to deal with.

Wow, that is a lot of money for that house. In Rochester, that would buy an actual mansion!

Is the pay higher in areas with higher real estate prices? Becuase that house, while cute, is fairly modest, and the mortgage is more than I even make in a month.

My new space is at least not in a thoroughfare and maybe it will help me concentrate better if I feel constricted about hopping all over the internet and what not. (trying to have a good attitude!)

I'm also still bitter about the whole having to sell the house during the worst of the housing market downturn

Ugh, yeah. We are VERY lucky that Bob's condo association allows renters and that he has two friends who are very responsible who needed a place to rent. My co-worker and her husband own a Chicago condo that's been on the market for like 5 years and their association doesn't allow renters so it's a total money sink.

We're hoping someday the market will come up enough that he can sell w/out losing a bunch of money.

Wow, that is a lot of money for that house. In Rochester, that would buy an actual mansion!

Sophia, heh, in Bay Area terms, it's a really, really reasonable price. Just ask anyone in the Bay Area. Or, Calfornia. Welcome to California real estate!

Is the pay higher in areas with higher real estate prices? Becuase that house, while cute, is fairly modest, and the mortgage is more than I even make in a month.

Yes salaries are much higher here, in general. Unless you work for McGraw Hill!

And this house is exactly what I want - a little charming bungalow with a great backyard.