I Miss My Independence

After two years of living on my own, an expired lease and rising housing costs forced me to move back home with my parents just before Independence Day. The good news is we have a cordial relationship ... but the bad news is I don't know how long it's going to take to find a new place -- especially since I refuse to deal with a broker.
My parents understood my dilemma when I informed them in May that I was embarking on a new apartment search. Paying hundreds of dollars for cramped living quarters is the norm in New York ... but if I'm going to pay a lot of money, I should do so because I'm getting what I want. My one-bedroom apartment was spacious, but it was also full of insects.
In the beginning, I was willing to overlook the building's flaws because its location provided easy access to transportation and was within walking distance of multiple amenities. I was also surrounded by quiet neighbors who took pride in where they lived, and being near Prospect Park was a bonus. However, as time went on, my reasons for leaving started to outnumber my reasons for staying.
Cleaning 1,000 square feet of living space on a regular basis made me realize I didn't need an apartment that big -- even if my parents claim I collect more junk than Fred Sanford. And because the building was in pre-war condition, its poor insulation meant the room temperature fluctuated between too cold and too hot, depending on the season. But dealing with centipedes and rodents was the deciding factor in giving up my apartment.
Living alone was a great self-confidence booster -- not that I was lacking in that department -- but returning home hasn't been without its sacrifices. (I'm paying my parents a monthly stipend while I'm under their roof.) Most of my possessions are in storage because I've outgrown my childhood bedroom, and the few items I brought with me clutter the area. To make matters worse, I'm readjusting to a lack of privacy.
As much as I enjoy being around my family, there's nothing like having your own place. After all, independence is liberating -- not just one day out of the year, but all year round.