Moving

One of my two flatmates is moving out next week. I've considered myself pretty lucky with the two I've been sharing this place with, as drab as the actual apartment is. The good news is that when he moves out I get to grab his room - this is promotion to a room with a proper door (as opposed to a slide porch-style door that rattles in the wind); a room that's not immediately behind the tv; a room that has a balcony where I can dry clothes. On the other had the new guy might be a complete wanker. I've recently been giving a lot of thought to moving out - especially as after talking with one of my (very few) Japanese friends and she suggested that my rent was pretty steep. I was all ready to do some serious apartment hunting until I was reminded of that little extra something - key money - that you have to pay practically everywhere, to the estate agent, that amounts to about 4 months rent. Then there's the added problem that a lot of places come unfurnished. Not to mention that the only accomodation remotely within my reach would be a one room studio apartment. This immediately negates any benefit I might get from a reduced rent. And of course all of this would have to be negotiated in Japanese. It would be pretty class to have my own place. Not having to worry about other flatmates, the privacy etc. But I guess I'm just going to have to stay put for the mo'...