Well, that's annoying

Last weekend I spent about a 30 - 45 minutes writing a new post about my living situation and it didn't upload. Bummer!
So, the super abbreviated version of last week's floating in the atmosphere blog is.....
I signed a lease for the 'dream cottage' downtown. I had seen this 2 bedroom Craftsman cottage the 1st or 2nd week I was here and I kept an eye on it the entire time I was looking at what felt like millions of other places. I met with the owners again 2 weeks ago, then filled out the application and received an offer from them. When I re-met with the owners I told them I could not afford what they were asking. They advised me to fill out the application then we would negotiate. In the end I was able to negotiate a price $295 below their original asking price (yeah!), but agreed to a 2 year lease. I know 2 years is a long time, but I know I am not like others I know that like to move every year or so. I haven't moved much over the years.
I am moving in next Wednesday, taking the day off of work and I am so thrilled to have a space to call my 'own' and to have my belongings and set up a kick-ass kitchen and have access to all my clothes, dishes, stuff!
The most shocking part of signing the lease was the total number of what my rent payments add up to for 2 years. I could buy a very, very nice car, or put a very decent downpayment on a house (only if I had that money all at once). I am definitely not adjusted to the sticker shock of prices from A-town to here. I even noticed that hydrogen peroxide and witch hazel are way more expensive here than in PA. What's that about??