Bonus!

So I went and signed my lease today on lunch break (I'm so happy I get a whole hour!). The manager x-ed the lines I had to sign or initial and passed the ream of paper across the desk so I could oblige. I'm sure she thought I would just sign, but I have a habit of reading things before I sign (fortunately I read fast!). So I took my time and read through all of it. I was delighted that there wasn't any fine print or small fonts to struggle with - its terrible to get old and discover how much little print exists in the course of a normal day's interactions.

She politely worked on her computer, giving me some space to work through the pages. I asked her a number of questions - what's a secure card for? (You load money on it and use it with the washers and dryers). Do you have enforced quiet hours? (not really, but you can't play an instrument or loud music after 11 pm or before 8 am ~ isn't that the same thing as quiet hours?) etc.

Then I read a line that made me raise an eyebrow. I re-read the line. Does this mean that heat and hot water are included in the rent? YES!!! Wow - I know when she told me what the power bill would be I thought it was low, but I didn't realize the gas was included in the rent and we are only responsible for the electric. What a deal! Especially in light of the fact that my last heat bill was $200 more, and mostly due to the incompetence of the fix-it guy who couldn't seem to make the furnace work right and we were freezing while paying a boatload of money.

This could be nice. It could be very nice. God is good. I hope I am still saying that *after* we move in.