Looking for the Unicorn

We've been half-heartedly looking for a new apartment for the last month or so. We like our apartment, but it is a little small, and we wanted to find somewhere with a deck or garden and possibly space for an office. Also we want to stay in our neighborhood and not pay too much more and have enough time to move in that we don't lose our deposit. Picky? Perhaps. But moving in New York is an expensive and time-consuming proposition, and it's not worth it unless you find just the right place.

We were looking half-heartedly for awhile, but then we found ourselves going to see several apartments a week and stretching our standards of what we wanted. "Well, it's only a little over two thousand, and that's okay, right?" (It isn't'.) "Sure it doesn't have a deck, but we could climb out of the bathroom window onto the fire escape..." "I guess this is still Park Slope..." And so on. After finding two almost-perfect places and getting rejected from both of them (stupid cats), we gave up and just went to Ikea to buy some new shelving for our old place.

And then, this weekend, we got the itch again. The first one we saw was advertised as:
The MoST BeautiFul apT in PARK SLOPE iS wAiTinG FOr YOU
THIS APARTMENT WAS DESIGNED SO THAT WHOEVER SAW IT WOULD FEEL AS IF THEY WOULD BE A KING OR QUEEN IT IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

How could we not go look?

It was beautiful, actually, with brand new stainless steel appliances and exposed brick and track lighting, but it isn't any bigger than where we are now, it's across the street from an abandoned warehouse, and it cost $700 more a month than what we pay now. Granite countertops and "working" fireplaces do not justify that amount without additional space.

The other place we looked at today was much nicer and more affordable- not quite as high-end remodeling, but brand new kitchen and bathroom and a beautiful garden patio. The only downside is that the bedroom is at the front of the building on the street, but the extra space makes up for that. I'm imagining myself typing this now in the sunny alcove off of the kitchen...

The funny thing about this place is that the owner is my boss's partner, so my boss lives upstairs and would be a de-facto landlord. Too weird? We like each other, but would that change if we lived in the same building? Would she judge me professionally for being out too late on the patio drinking? I'm trying to decide if knowing the landlord's girlfriend is a leg-up or a down-side in this situation.

Why can't we be happy where we are? Probably because the guy downstairs got arrested for murder and they haven't turned the heat on since the beginning of the month. But moving is an expensive and time-consuming ordeal. And you have to find that perfect place.