Being a hipster isn't just a state of mind anymore...it's gotten geographical

Ry and I signed a lease for an apartment smack-dab in Wicker Park last week! Woo-hoo! That's hipster ground zero for those of you who aren't into drinking ironic beer in equally ironic dive bars with vintage vinyl playing in the background.

I won't get into specifics in fear of the stalkers (how hilarious I'd care about revealing my address considering what I do for a living), so I'll just say the place is a block south of Division and a couple blocks west ofAshland. We'll be just a stone's throw from the Chicago bus (how we get to work) and the Division Blue Line stop.

What's really important is we'll be able to literally crawl home from four of our favorite bars in Chicago: The Inner Town Pub, Gold Star, Happy Village and theRainbo Club.

There were four criteria that played into our decision: price (had to be under $1,100), social location, location to public transportation and apartment quality/size. Those of you who actually see this place will realize quickly that social location was our top priority.

The apartment itself ain't much. Hell, you don't much for just over a $1,000 a month in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the country. We got a living room and a kitchen (which are essentially the same room), two tiny bedrooms with barely enough room to put a bed, and a back deck with a slight view of the Near North Sidehighrises. As for appearances, well, it won't be mistaken for a condo in the Palmolive Building, but I've certainly lived in worse.

Overall, living amongst likeminded and similarly-aged artsy folk will be more enjoyable than our current situation, which is amidst spoiled DePaul kids and yuppie stroller-wielding thirtysomethings.

The only upsetting part of the situation was writing nearly $2,500 in checks for something we won't actually own. An act that has all the characteristics of an ass raping, minus, of course, an actual penis being inserted into your anus.

Oh well, at least we'll have cheap bars within stumbling distance to drink our egregious rent paying sorrows away.