Househunting

So what were we up to this weekend? Turns out to be a quiet one as Charming Calvin and I actually went around house-hunting.

Yes, how domestic is that? Since Calvin can't possibly be paying exorbitant rent for the rest of his adult life, I figured it's time he invested some of his hard-earned Beijing yuan into a house of his own.

Coincidentally there's a housing development exhibition in town so we dropped by for a look. Much less of a crowd these days - no doubt due to fears of an imminent recession. Though unlike the tumbling share markets, the real estate prices here don't seem to have taken a drastic nose-dive at all, remaining shockingly exorbitant instead since apparently none of the recession-hit executives have opted for that final plunge out of their penthouse balconies.

Unfortunately.

Though Calvin has already refused point-blank to move into any such apartment ( even if there were any to be had at a crying bargain! ) I think I could safely hide rumours of the late owner's tragic demise from him. Of course that's after I hire a motley crew of bomohs, shamans, priests and exterminators to clear the space!


Don't worry. I'm not that crazy.
There'll be a twice weekly cleaning service.
Came as a surprise to me that apparently the developers do appreciate the purchasing power of the pink dollar since none of them even blinked an eye over two men wanting to share a home together. With the sales team baying at our steps, I found myself a little swayed by a nifty lil place called PJ8 and a laketown villa in Puchong. But despite the enthusiastic spiel of the salespersons eager to make a sale, Calvin remained unmoved since he's obviously set his heart on a certain apartment block down one of the bylanes of Jalan Ampang.

Though I marvel at the number of studio apartments they tried to hock.

Me, I like plenty of space. So I can't possibly live in a tiny, dank closet under the stairs with crawlspace enough only to be shared by Harry Potter and his pet owl. Doubt I could share a studio apartment with Calvin. In the event of a plate-flinging domestic quarrel, are we supposed to strut off in a fit to opposite ends of the room only to glare lividly at the walls with arms crossed?

Impossible. I need at least a sturdy door to slam ( and a room to hole up in while I gather my strength for the next rip-roaring argument ).

And if I needed any further indication that my brother already knows about our relationship, I got this peculiar message from him while asking for pointers on real estate investment.

Brother : Househunting together? How romantic!

Now, my older brother doesn't do sarcasm so I have to assume that's wholly genuine! Not surprised though since despite his blockhead manner, he's really not that obtuse.