You've seen the postings -- and that's almost all ads -- in which they (the posters / composers) go on about how great the place is, how community-oriented the housemates are, how cool or "techy" they are (because, somehow, that's what matters most in a human being), and many other flourishes. You've probably also seen the near-perfect pictures they display...pictures of, granted, immaculate bedrooms and fixtures; then they make it sound as though "renting" equals "ownership".

Let's face it; it's all a distraction. Not rubbish, but almost.

The truth is that any responsible and reasonable person needs 2 main things in any living space: SAFETY and AMAZINGLY GOOD REST. That is all. Those two -- and perhaps fair proximity -- should be incontrovertible. Nothing else matters if either is missing.

If you're looking for a bedroom in Palo Alto (short or long term) with those two elements guaranteed and a lot of the other bells and whistles, I'd like to hear from you. I'm assuming you're responsible and reasonable / rational.