Things We Will Miss: The Apartment
Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 3:34PM Before starting The Great Apartment Search of 2007, we made a long unobtainable list of requirements for our future home: fireplace, wood floors, nice neighborhood, lots of storage space, a backyard, architectural details, and definitely no more than $1800 a month. We looked at about 20 apartments. One had zero windows, another had no sink in the bathroom. One we were shown with flashlights because the lights weren't yet wired, and another looked like a crime scene after the previous tenants had been evicted. Then, right when we were ready to give up and live in a tent next to the West Side Highway, the heavens opened up and we were able to check off everything on our list.
Don't let these pictures fool you, it's not all perfect. We live in a basement, so light is minimal. Our apartment is no more than 400 sqare feet. We pay too much for it and can hear every footstep, phone ring, and sneeze of our neighbors upstairs. The dust and mold that accumulate mean that over the last two years Nick has built an army of asthma meds (seriously, like 6 different puffers and pills. Yes, we clean and vacuum regularly.) We can't fit more than two pots on the stove at a time, and if you flush the toilet, don't even think about taking a shower for the next 10 minutes.
But beyond all of the negatives listed above, it is a place we have built together and it is full of happy memories. We have spent the last two years scrounging thrift stores and waking up early to get to estate sales, just so we can fill our house with stuff we like to look at. Everything in here has a story, and I'm sure we'll miss coming home to this place.
Reader Comments (2)
seriously had tears.
Hey guys, I just found this out, I will be following your blog...
I find very interesting the things that you have to say about nyc, "myths and realities" as we say here in Oaxaca.
We loved your apartment, and thank you for hosting us in one of the greatest trips we´ve ever made.
I still remember the first night we stayed when I accidentaly broke a glass thing hanging on the wall in the top picture, sorry about that :)
However, I feel like you will be able to visit us down here soon!! It´s exciting, keep us posted.
¡¡Feliz año nuevo y buena suerte cabrones!!
Eric