Decisions, decisions...

We happen to live in one of the (maybe the) worst school districts in our county. In a year and a half, our oldest child will be going into that school district. Also, he will be in the special education program. So, we really have to move to another school district. The thing is, we're trying to save up for a house, again (long story), and the apartment complex where we live keeps offering really sweet deals to get people to stay. When we first moved here, it wasn't a great place, but we needed something quick, and my cousin found the listing, and they were having a great deal. They had just started up with a new management company, and in the past year and a half, have made major improvements. The apartment is completely redone (with the cheapest possible updates, but still fresh and new), there is a new clubhouse with a 24 hour gym, a brand new pool with a section especially for small children (the picture above is of the old pool...in the back is a little square area, and now it's fenced off for the little ones, and they have new tables with umbrellas and new chairs), several brand new playgrounds (the one in the picture is old), lots of grassy areas to run around on, is surrounded by woods, has mountain views, has a beautiful pond with lots of baby birds to see in the spring, and it's at least $400 per month cheaper than any other apartment we've looked at...besides the rent includes heat and hot water, which many apartment rents do not. So, do we stay in a lousy school district for the first few years so we can hopefully save for a house, or do we get a more expensive apartment in a better school district and have much less money to save? The more we look, the more we're leaning toward staying where we are. We also have wonderful neighbors. The folks in our building are mostly young families, and in fact, the couple next door recently brought home a brand new daughter (whose middle name is the same as my daughter's first name). My downstairs neighbor cleans off my car in the winter if my husband doesn't get to it so I don't have to do it with the two kids. There is an events coordinator (for the complex, not my building), so there's always something going on...pancake breakfasts, Bingo games, poker nights, welcome the weekend parties, children's parties, Mommy and Me classes, girls nights out, boys nights out, pool parties...etc., etc., etc. AND within the complex is a pizzaria, deli, convenience store, dry cleaners, and even an ENT. We haven't been able to find anything even close to what we have. The maintenance folks are also wonderful. I really can't complain about anything. I don't have to shovel, sweep, do any landscaping, repair anything, pay to repair anything, have a pool I don't need to take care of, have a playground right around the back of the building with a huge grassy play area around it...we have it pretty good, even though it's not what we were looking for, and initially, not what we wanted. Lots of things have happened that we didn't want to happen, but I think things have worked out pretty well, just the same. God knows what He's doing, and I try to trust in Him.

Oh, I guess I should fold the laundry...but what do you think we should do? Should we stay or should we go?