On Monday January 9, 2006 Matthew Shiel moves into NYC.

I am very excited about this. My job goes full-time (whoohoo salary!), I'm done with the LSAT, and I'm going to be living in the biggest city in the world. I am very, very excited about this.

Let me give a bit of background on my living situation hunt:

So there I was, stalking the Rooms/Shares section of Craigslist, day in, day out. I would lay in wait, hidden the brush, pouncing on every possible ad I saw, but no bites. Either they only wanted a female roommate (c'mon it's 2006! Live a little), or were asking for way to freaking much cash, that I personally could not afford without taking out a loan on the Brooklyn Bridge. Then one day, inspiration struck! Why don't I create my own housing/living situation wanted ad. And lo and behold, I struck gold. Or rather, other people struck gold, came across my ad, and actually wanted me. I don't know if it was my dazzling good looks, witty personality, or smooth sense of writing, but I got a lot of replies.

So my search took on a physical aspect to it. I now went out into the gaping maw of skyscrapers and down deep into the digestive tube of subways to visually get a visceral reaction. Some of these reactions were like eh..., others were like EHH!!!, and others were awesome. A few conversations with possible roommates occurred, and while tempting, didn't quite satisfy like a snickers would.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and attended a loft-living situation open house down on canal street. This was during the massive transit strikes, so no busses, no subways, just hoofing it, like our ancient ancestors did when trying to find a suitable cliff-face or overhang to spend the night.

After a grueling party process, I was one of the few that survived the initial initiation rite (is that redundant sounding?) However, my trials and tribulations were not over yet, no sirree, I had to attend yet another open house to meet the roommates who were either out of the country, area, or minds during my first visit. This second open house was a lot crazier, with double the people. Yet again, I triumped and was presented with a gilded phone call from Nina, who said, "Yes, Matt, you did get the room. Congratulations. It was rough, but you were selected". I give thanks to the Flying Spaghetti Monster for all that he's done for me so far.

Now the living situation is like this:
10 separate bedrooms of various sizes and shapes
2 full bathrooms
1 fully functional kitchen
1 washer/dryer combo in said kitchen
2 couches
2 hookahs
1 narrow rectangular table.

This means, 9 other roommates: 8 of whom I've met and thoroughly enjoyed their company so far. The make-up of the loft is very eclectic/international, with folks from london, sweden, france, and apparently an 18 year old german model moving in as well. There are also some folks from the good 'ole US of A, so I'm not the only odd man out.

I start packing this weekend, and move stuff in on Sunday, but am an official resident of NYC come Monday.

I'm ready for it, but is it ready for me?