i i would like to stay on at garden street for the remainder of my time here, not only because i cannot face the idea of another move, but because i really do like it here, but they've just released next year's rent - they put the rents up every year - and i'm starting to think i can't manage for much longer. stipends just aren't keeping pace with rent increases. i even wondered briefly if i should not extend the lease, but it's hard to go through the process of looking for another place and moving, with finals and generals and the daily grind as well. i've been looking for apartments online half the week, and it all seems so grim. and when i come to think of it, what other arrangement would suit me? i really, really don't want to live in a house with three or four others, so moving means living on my own. one-bedrooms are absolutely out of the question - given the large difference in rent i'll still be better off in a studio, and if i wanted a studio i might as well stay on at garden street. the double studio arrangment is somewhat between the two - i have a largish eat-in kitchen that is entirely separate from my room, with a table i can work at and give dinners, and that makes the apartment feel somewhat more like a one bedroom. and i have my own bathroom, which gives me the illusion of really living on my own. and the rents are not unreasonable - yet. my lan connection is provided by harvard and all the utilities are included - yes, i'm spoilt, but i don't want to be cold, whatever von says about wearing sweaters indoors. i do want to take as many hot showers as i like and not have to wash dishes in freezing cold water in the winter and not have to be thinking about the cost everytime i put a pan on the stove. and i am lazy. it's not too far to walk to classes, or the T-stop, or the supermarket. i don't want have to travel into cambridge, i don't even really want to have to walk in from porter or central square - if this were a warm climate i'd be happy to walk long distances - but it is nearly always cold. so i guess i'm staying, and i'm relieved to be staying too, because if i had found something a good deal less expensive i couldn't justify staying. but this is probably the last year. if the rents go up again in 2007 i simply shall have to go live somewhere else. better start cutting out the flowers now.