28 Days to LA: Day 3 and 4
Remember this: door frames are not made to be easily removable.
Removing all the sheetrock in bathroom 1 meant removing the door frame - which is coated in a finish that we dont have, so is effectively irreplaceable. Usually a 280lb guy and a crowbar aren't good at delicate operations like this, but I did it with a "minimum" of splintering.
What I really mean is, I hope Tara doesn't notice the huge long split down one side of the frame.
Anyway, I did my part in time, and now the sheetrock guys have been here this morning and the room is all fancy looking again. Tomorrow we can start tiling and re-assembling - but more importantly I can attack the master bathroom with prejudice.
I've also been considering where I will sleep when I arrive in Sunny CA.
Initially I assumed that accommodation would be the same price that it was when I toured SF to LA "on the cheap" via Motel 6.
Back in 1986.
It isn't.
I fondly remember that it cost $12 a night, and I would just call ahead to book the next night, so I could tour on a whim, not knowing where I would end up.
Now it's goddamn $60 per night in Motel 6. SIXTY BUCKS!
Ok, perhaps that's still "cheap" for a room, but multiply it by 30 days and $1800/month doesn't sound cheap any more. Long term rates I hear you say? Dream on. I can't find anything much cheaper.
Renting a 300 sq ft "suite" in someones house I could do for as low as $650/month, but that's usually signing a lease for a few months at least - and I want to be testing out different cities every few weeks if possible. Seeing what the commute is like, seeing the city at night, the shopping, etc, etc.
I even considered camping - easy to do, right? Not so fast. Apparently the weather there is SO perfect that they have a problem with camping. You cannot stay in any campsite for more than 7 days, and cannot return within the same month. And the gates all shut at 9pm or so. And it's still not cheap enough. And showers apparently cost extra; 50c for 3 minutes. *Sigh*
Plus, all my friends thought it was hilarious that I'd even consider living out of a tent. Ok, fine. Perhaps you have a point.
The only hope I have at this point I think is to use priceline - the cheapest I can find on there is $50-$60 a night in some dodgy hotel where the reviews actually talk about mildewy showers and *cough* "hairs in the bed". Nice.
But doing the whole priceline "give us your credit card and we'll get it cheaper" thing has been recommended by a few people now so I'll give it a go for the first stint. Then I can always look again when I'm there and have my feet on the ground.
I still think the tent on the beach in Ventura would have been cool though.