Tips for finding a stress-free 'shelter'

Psychologist Abraham Maslow in his seminal psychological paper A Theory of Human Motivation introduced the hierarchy of needs, which ranked human necessities in a pyramid with the physical fundamentals of food, clothing and shelter on the bottom. Why? Because without them getting to those other tasks, such as feelings of belonging and self-actualization, would be impossible to meet.

As a foreigner in a China context, the situation changes a bit. Food? Absolutely no problem. Restaurants here are omnipresent, affordable and delicious. If I need a burger or a hunk of Manchego, I know where to procure it. Clothing? It gets a little trickier, but as China's consumer market embraces Western outlets such as H&M and La Senza, you'll hear no complaints from me about where to buy jeans and bras that fit my American frame.

But shelter? Holy moly, there is nothing harder about being in China than trying to find adequate shelter. And I don't care who you are or how long you've lived here, until you've dealt with Chinese agents and landlords you've been pampered - think Roman senator being carried around on a litter being hand-fed grapes and cooled by slaves fanning you with palm fronds pampered.