I don't know how big Lawton is, which means it's probably not big enough for what I was going to suggest--and that's a youth hostel or something. If you were moving to NYC, I'd suggest you get a room at the YMCA on the upper west side, and use it as a base while you figure out what to do, where you can afford to live, whether you'll be there longer, etc. But those sorts of "single room occupancy" places, or youth hostels, aren't very common--they're usually only in large cities. Or, if they're present in smaller cities, they're kinda skeevy, bcs some of the folks in them will be people who can't get it together quite for unpleasant reasons. (though if you can find one, it might be But, you might call the Chamber of Commerce and ask if there's any sort of residence hotel in town, or if they've got any ideas about finding a roommate situation. and roommates.com had a share available for $230/month--most folks would rather have someone they know will be around for a while, but they might be able to work with you. If you've got any connection w/ someone in the Army at Fort Sill, they might be able to help you find something--I don't know if anyone lives off post, but if they do, there might be an Army-run housing list of some sort. I know I stayed for a while ON post in not-too-expensive housing bcs my Army brother signed me up; I don't know if that would work.You'd have to have an Army person to speak for you. To get an apartment on your own (or even as a roommate), you need proof of an income source--in other words, a job, or someone WITH a job who will co-sign for you (in other words to legally commit that they will pay the rent if you can't). Here is a link that might be useful: apartmentsrus.com, a 1BR in Lawton for $230

Also I just ordered some Aloe melanacantha seeds(black thorn aloe) off of the same guy and some Aloe longistyla seed off someone else. That should satisfy my seed sprouting cravings for this year. Also I've sprouted a lot of aloe seeds in the past so these should be easy for me. But I am a little rusty on the technique. Any tips to improve germination rate would be helpful.

Karen -- Would you mind telling me what your utility bills are like? I'd like to get a handle on that. We're about to advertise a 3BR 1Bath first floor unit in NW Chicago. We bought a 2-flat two months ago. The second floor tenants are staying and have a discount for doing janitorial/garden work. Both tenants will be paying utilities other than water/trash removal. We plan to remodel the current in-law unit in the basement to a separate 2BR 1Bath. All have gas-fired central heating and air conditioning.

Congratulations on your new home! It's always a challenge getting things unpacked and organized, so I wish you well in that endeavor. That you're already thinking about how to decorate says that you love to create your own little nest and are looking forward to doing so in this space. I like the artwork you've started with. Do you envision shelves on this wall, or perhaps a collection of artwork that will create a gallery wall effect? I'm personally a big fan of a "curated" gallery wall, using various pieces of art that are special to you. It's fun to start a collection too, as you never know when you might come across a new piece that sparks inspiration and fits right in. Think about what YOU would like to see most on this wall and then look at images online to gather ideas. It's a fun process, and there is no right or wrong ... just start thinking about how you want to make this space your very own.