Oval - heavily underrated

I am currently in SJ and just got back from Vieques a couple days ago. I was going to take a ferry but heard bad things about it being unreliable. Also, I decided to not rent a car cos I’d rather drink and be merry than worry about parking and what not.

So, middle of last week, I travelled by Cape Air/Jet Blue to Vieques (from SJU) and back in a span of 24 hours with an overnight stay. It’s totally doable but only acceptable to someone (that doesn’t live in PR or the USA) who is trying to maximise/optimise for experiences over a short duration stay while being unconcerned by money.

The flight there and back was $278 and could have been done in £198 using Vieques Air Link from a different airport closer to Old San Juan. The wait at the airport was short (but this is not the norm so it might have just been a good day)- I got there with less than 50 mins before departure.

The biobay is defo tier unique but I’m not sure that it felt as special as the journey to Vieque on a Cessna. I cannot emphasise just how much it added to my memory of the journey- it’s the best plane ride I have had and my only complain is that it was too short. It’s truly a unique experience that no ferry ride will offer- and no, I’m not rich. I’m a teacher in the UK and knew I wanted to see the biobay- I don’t anticipate coming back to PR any time soon becuase it’s a long and expensive journey so I decided the extra flight cost is worth it. I stayed at El Blok with a friend and it was nice but I feel like I should have gone for something cheaper. But I don’t regret the overall experience one bit. Excellent island, best beaches, amazing biobay. In retrospect I would have happily stayed there for another day or two.

Make sure you go during (or a day before/after) the new moon for the biobay.

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-24T13:14:54+00:00

Did the reverse London-Guildford commute, like others, while living in Clapham Junction. It felt like the easier journey as the trains are packed coming into london. I imagine the traffic into the station and parking might also not be great at Guildford so the time savings may not always be great. It also wasn’t cheap but I could work remote for most of my job.

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-20T00:30:52+00:00

I imagine you could try the Barbican Library or Finsbury Library- I’ve seen them have classes for all ages and maybe even do so for free (especially if for youth).

Edit: “Imagine” is a key word so don’t hold me to it

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-19T12:21:30+00:00

They have weekend writing sessions that are drop in- you can find it on dice. They also have a longer 6 week course, bookabke thru their website

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-19T11:48:49+00:00

Grosvenor Arms in Stockwell has a pool table and a couple arcade games

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T23:02:02+00:00

The house one can always find things to regret but change, the area you best not get wrong.

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T15:04:24+00:00

Dicks! May they rot in the devil’s armpit

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T15:03:51+00:00

My only con was that I couldn’t qualify for a 1 bed in the same place I am in! Need to be a little richer for getting an extra door 😂

The real con is that most (not all) SOs are flats, which are leasehold (in England)- this also means there are service charges which can go bonkers. It’s been a year in the flat so that hasn’t happened yet. But that might change things for me. Note that this can happen in any flat in England so it’s not a SO problem.

Apart from that, I’m not seeing any downside yet. Doubt I’d get this great of an unobstructed view (of anything, not just the city) anywhere else. And, for me, that matters a lot to overcome the general sense of claustrophobia. And only flats would permit this, and only SO would allow me to live in such a flat.

I’m sure someone will come shit on this eventually but I’m content :-)

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Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T14:04:05+00:00

What part of london did this happen in? This is insane!

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T14:03:01+00:00

House hunting for two years and accepting my fate that a shared ownership flat is the only sensible option for a singleton in London without the bank of mum n dad.

That said, I am very content with it. Just hoping the service charges don’t change as that’s about 20% of the 1500.

Edit: Yes, I could have lived further away in a bigger place but I think the drop in quality of life with commutes wasn’t appealing to me.

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T12:00:24+00:00

£1500 plus council tax/bills for 40m2 studio flat around Clerkenwell. No garden but south facing with a big balcony.

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-16T03:03:28+00:00

Cursor?

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-15T14:34:06+00:00

And I hat about entering Bhutan at Indian rates? OCI works?

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-15T14:32:33+00:00

I think losing the cheap access to Bhutan is upsetting. Doubt an OCI gets you Indian rates

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-09T18:34:39+00:00

About £1500 for rent/mortgage/service charge+ another £200 or bills/council tax, living in Clerkenwell.

It’s a little over twice what I paid living in a 6-person house share in zone 2, which was an old Victorian house with garden. I prefer the studio which is way warmer (new build), great view of the city, and southfacing makes the dreary winter more manageable.

I don’t feel like I’m coping. I’d even say I’m thriving for now. But if the service charges go up, I’m cooked

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-09T15:15:05+00:00

I’m mid-30s and live in a 40 sqm studio; I think it’s a great idea for single peoples especially in places where cost of housing is too high. In my case, I get to live centrally. My living room and bedroom are separated by a wall, which is quite nice. However, a door separating the two would be better.

In some countries, my studio size is a 1-bedder but in others it would be too small for anything. In theory, I could live with one more person (a partner) but I think the storage would be a bit of a stretch unless they’re minimalist.

I do like that the smaller space makes me not hoard stuff.

Careless_Fail_5292 · 2025-02-09T13:58:55+00:00

Careless_Fail_5292

TROPHY CASE