Chapter 1 - "Finding Shangri-La"

I had lived in Beaverton with my very best friend and roommate Thomas Prints since December of 2005. Up until that December I had lived alone. Thomas had come to visit me during Thanksgiving 2005, and while visiting me collasped on my floor. I told him we were going to the hospital the next morning. He was diagnosed with lung cancer, which eventually spread to his brain. He had no relatives and I told him I would stand with him, regardless. He was my friend!

Thomas died on August 3rd 2007. It was hard being alone in the place we had, both, laughed, cried, comforted, had birthday parties, fine dinners, did some drinking, did some partying, and had experienced dying, together. I couldn't bring myself to breaking his room down, or, even going inside, though, when I did, I'd talk to him. He was my friend!

I, eventually, during his illness, became his care provider and advocate, always battling the American medical system, its money and greed ideology (and he had max insurance), and the hidious hospice people from Good Samaratan Hospital, in Portland, and Providence St. Vincent's Hospital, in Beaverton, Oregon. (But, this is a whole other story you'll read someday on Xomba)

By January of 2008, I couldn't handle living there anymore. I notified my landlord that I would be moving no later than March 1, 2008.

I figured I had sixty-days to find a new home, so, I wasn't too worried. I was working in Tualatin, Oregon, about twelve miles south of Portland. I decided to begin looking for a place in or around Tualatin.

Thomas and I had found our home, in 2005, using the Portland edition of the world famous Craigslist. Since Craigslist had worked well the first time, I decided to, once again, use the system, which had given us our happy home.

The job I had in Tualatin, I obtained because my employer had seen my resume on Craigslist, and offered me the position. I have another real good friend, who I had met in 2003, when he had bought a hard drive for his computer from me, which I had listed on Craigslist.

Craigslist had become a viable, and trusted resource.

I contemplated about if I would need a roommate, or if I could afford a place by myself? I decided to write two ads, one for the roommate idea, and one for the pay-all-the-rent idea. I realized, almost, immediately, without a roommate I could not afford to pay the whole amount alone. Rent around Tualatin for a studio and/or one-bedroom is in the $600-$800 range. I don't like living in those places where you find apartments stacked like bird cages, one, on-top of the other, nor, do I like living in a complex with hundreds of people. I like duplexes, and stand-alone places.

I got a couple of hits for the idea of paying-all-the-rent, and these verified my fears about not being able to pay for a place alone. I got a few more hits from the roommate idea. I did go and meet the folks who had answered my ad. All, proved to be unacceptable, some were plain-out screw-balls.

So, I started looking through the posted ads. I found two in Tualatin. One had already been taken, and the other was an option. The remaining one I opened up an email dialog. The guy's name was Tommy, and he told me he was looking for a roommate for his roommate. Tommy was moving next door with his new girlfriend and he felt obligated not to leave his roommate in a position of having to pay all the rent. At, the time, it seemed logical to me.

I had found my Shangri-La in Tualatin. And, I'm still in Tualatin, in the place I found through Tommy.
He still lives next door, and he, and, I, and his girlfriend, and his other roommates all, have become good friends.

But, Shangri-La? Nothing could have been further from the truth! And, I always am looking for an opening to bring up the point, to Tommy; “this is all your fault!”

Chapter 2: The Roommate

I'll be writing Chapter 2 this coming week (May 26-June 1, 2008). I'll use links to connect the chapters. I need a handful of XombaZines to keep my composure, right now!
Look for Chapter 2 coming soon to Xombytes about the continuing story of “The Craigslist House” - a real Survivor Story...

And, when I picked the name "The Craigslist House," I had thought about another choice too, "the Psycho House."

After, all, I am living with grandson of Norman Bates, sort of. I always barricade my door before I go to bed.

Welcome my friends, you've just stepped into The Craigslist House! "Oh, Norman, we have company!"
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