And so the housing dilemas continue.
I have switched internet providers and saved a bit of cash there with a couple months free and a slightly cheaper (and better) plan with NTT. They came and set me up yesterday and J:Com came and took the old modem and unhooked everything today.
I also got my rental contract renewal papers. This is Japan and I've lived here for 2 years and so it shouldn't shock me anymore how they try and squeeze all the money they can out of you. I am paying more than I did to get this apartment in the first place! How is that logical? It isn't, and that shouldn't come as a shock to me. So now I am faced with a dilema. The rental agreement is for 2 years but I'm not even going to be here that long. I've emailed my landlord about getting a 6 month lease if possible but I'm not hopeful on that front, as nice as he is.
If I'm going to have to pay 110,000 yen to renew my lease on this place, as much as I liked it, why shouldn't I spend that same amount moving closer to Tokyo so I can be closer to my friends? Just after I got my internet hooked up. If the papers had come sooner, I wouldn't have bothered. Oh well. It's 2 months free anyway. I just have to wonder if I will be able to find somewhere else worth living that will have everything and not cost me an arm and a leg to move to. Not only do I have to factor in paper work costs and all that that comes with leasing an apartment, but getting a mover and having to buy appliances if necessary. I don't know if the savings I'll make in train fare will be enough to balance out the extra costs. When I got this place, I think there was no key money or deposit but I still had to pay close to a grand up front.
Do I want to enjoy the rest of my time in Japan? Absolutely. I'm going to be hurting for money either way, whether I stay here and just renew or find a new place closer to the action. I'll have to change my routines: I'll be one of those commuters on the trains in the morning, but at least work will pay for that.
All this stress just for 6 months.
