I'm Just(in) Riley from the Block...

OK, first of all, I coulda swore that J-Lo used to sing "I'm just Jenny from the Bronx" until I made a bet with someone (Rebecca I think?) that I subsequently lost. In any case, I will never be *from* the Bronx, but I may soon live in the Bronx [insert shocker emoticon here]. My friend Melissa has a very nice 2-bedroom apartment that she owns and is offer to rent me the other room for a steep discount compared to what I currently pay for my studio. My lease is up in August and my landlord wants an answer soon on my renewal. Let's break it down:

Benefits:

1. Melissa is an awesome cook and we cook for each other occasionally, so if we were in the same apartment it would be a pretty good setup.
2. I can't remember the last time that I actually did something besides go back to my apartment during the week (exercise excluded). I am really a homebody during the week.
   
3. I would see what it's like to live with a girl (if you didn't pick up on previous blog hints, you might consider re-reading)
4. I would not have a lease to be bound to, meaning I could pick up and leave within a few weeks notice (again, consider re-reading previous posts). Even if I decide that living with Melissa is hell and I want to move to Billyburg in Brooklyn.
5. Melissa doesn't mind visitors at all.
6. Melissa is Mexi-American: Spanish language partner?!?
   
7. Melissa works crazy hours for the energy company, so she's off a lot during the days and works at night, so it would only be like a part-time roommate.
   
8. I need a change, I can't take the Upper East Side for much longer.
   
9. This would do wonders for my street-cred and tough-guy image.
10. There's actually a beach up there, supposedly pretty nice and [gasp] clean.
    
11. Did I mention that I would save almost $1000 a month in rent/bills? Imagine the travel/gadget budget with that.
12. She has a much bigger TV that I do, couches, Lazy-boy, and a stocked kitchen.
    
13. She's the one person who is cheaper than me (besides some of the guys I work with).
    

Drawbacks:

1. My commute would expand to roughly 45 minutes each way (15 minutes more than it currently is)
2. Subway rides home at 3:00am on the rare weekends out on the town would be tough (of course I could just cab it).
3. Getting downtown would take about an extra 1/2 hour (the 45-minute commute as it is now prevents me from going down there much anymore anyway).
4. I wouldn't get to hang out with Andrea & Alan and Paul & Cathy (if/when they come home!)
5. Melissa, how should I say it, likes a bit of attention
6. Melissa has a cat that, as cats go, is chill. But, it's still a cat.
   
7. Mom and pop natural food shops, restaurants, etc. are non-existent there, they will require a commute.
   
8. I would be the only white guy in the zip code (not that I care much about that though).
9. I couldn't be a snobby ass and brag about living in Manhattan (maybe this would fit better under "Benefits").
10. Girlfriend gives me the eye-raising emoticon when I mention that I might be living with another girl (she's given me the ok, however ;o).
    

Comments?

J. Riley, it will be interesting to go back and read this in 6-months if I do end up moving north.