More Houston!

Since my last post I have found and moved into an apartment, signed up for electricity service, and started populating it with essential items. I got a great deal on my apartment by finding someone, Tom, who needed to break his lease. An apartment which would have cost more than $1100/month is now mine for $899/month. That is how much rental prices have changed in less than a year here in Houston.

This place was very carefully designed. There are two ponds, three swimming pools, and three parking garages in the complex, but they are tucked away behind several types of trees and shrubs that all seem very healthy.

I signed up for electricity also. Most electricity providers here charge a "service fee" if one's electricity usage falls below a certain amount (usually 500, 800, or 1000 kwh). I object to the policy of charging me more if I use less electricity, so I chose an unadvertised option without a service fee but with 20% wind energy. I may end up paying slightly more than I would have with other plans for the summer months, but during autumn when I won't be using climate control very much, I expect my choice will prove its value.

I have been entertaining myself by trying to purchase household goods that aren't made in China. Of course it's easy to go to Target and get everything I need (forks, plates, tables, chairs, towels, rugs, etc.), but anyone who knows me knows that I am more into the path less travelled. So how do I go that route for utensils? Thrift stores and IKEA.

So far I've been to several local "thrift stores." These aren't common in Boston, but I did visit them when I lived in Alabama. When old people die, their stuff sometimes ends up at these stores. Old people bought really classy things back in the 1900-1980 time frame, and I've been recycling some of their stuff.

So far I have a few dishes and mugs made in Germany, some made in England, and some really nice ones made in Japan. Just today I found a near-complete set of silver-plated silverware from 1948 (made in USA). At IKEA I found a dustpan made in the Czech Republic, towels made in India, a tuperware bowl made in Italy, and a rug made in Egypt.

So it is possible to buy things that aren't made in China.