So, how's apartment living?

Marty and I have not lived in an apartment since spring of 1968.  Lots of houses over the years as we were transferred here there and yon.  January 2013 we moved into our apartment.  Lots of people ask, how is it, how are you doing, do you miss a house . . . ?  After four months here I think I can answer the questions.

First we really like this apartment.  It is the top floor of a Victorian that has lots of charm.  It is light filled because of 8 foot tall windows.  The rooms are large and there is, for an apartment, some storage, cause we got stuff.  We are happy here.  The landlord lets us drive nails in the walls and hang pictures and shelves.  He let us put a storage shed on the property.  We feel at home.

Of course we miss a house.  We could paint walls lovely colors. Our houses had more room, more storage, Air Conditioning, a washer and a dryer, better kitchens, professional stoves.  Did I mention I miss the AC?  It is bloody hot today, 90 right now.  And I don't do heat well.

Back to other things.  Living this close to the downstairs couple is not as intimate as we were with the neighbors in Rockridge.  We were urban there, we could hears their twin babies scream all day and night, with the windows closed.  And we could hear their doorbell and phone sometimes.

Owning a house means you fix it.  You get on the tall ladders and change the porch light bulbs that are sky high.  The sink leaks here, the landlord handles it.  Leaky faucets, landlord's problem.  Need new window screens, again the landlord handles it.  All that is a nice thing.  At our age we don't need to climb ladders, or crawl under sinks.

There is a convenience to being renters.  You have a lovely home but someone else has all the responsibility.  Right now renting is the best thing for us.  Maybe we will buy again, but we better win the lottery to pay people to pack us and move us.  I am sure our friends and son will not move us again.

Today is the day

Today Marty and I will pick up the keys to our new apartment.  They are letting us have them almost a week early.  We can measure, figure what furniture will fit where, put down shelf paper, and clean to my standards.  After Christmas we will start moving in.  I am excited and also really dreading all the work ahead.  Moving out was hell in August.  We were so tired.  Now we are reversing all we did then.  Better stock up on the Two Buck Chuck,

We have rented an apartment in a Victorian in San Leandro, CA. San Leandro is about 10 miles from where we used to live.  It has two BART stations and is between two Interstate Highways.  The town is charming and has added several good restaurants in the last few years.  They also have one of the best hamburger places ever.  There are good ethnic groceries, we will not starve.

We have the top floor.  The door on the left is ours.  We said no more steps but could not pass up this beauty.  The lit room will be our office/den.  To the right is the living room.

 

 

This is our bedroom which is on the side of the house.  Crown molding, picture railings, and molding around the windows.  There is a large closet.

The living room has a fireplace that has a gas stove insert.  The tile work is really pretty and interesting.  There are several patterns here.

The living room.  Nearly every room has a Hunter's Fan.  Again gorgeous molding around the room.

This is the banister above the stairwell.  This design goes down the stairs also. 

The kitchen has lots of cabinets for an apartment.  The door on the right goes to a covered back porch and the back steps.  We have a good sized pantry, room for the kitchen table, and room for some storage chests.  There is also a new gas stove.  I can make this work.

We have a big linen closet and another closet in the den.  For an apartment there is a lot of storage. 

We are anxious to get moved in and start the next stage of our life. I will post updates.  There may be whining too.  Stay tuned.

THE HUNT IS OVER!!!

The leasing agency just called Marty.  We are approved for the apartment we wanted.  It is the top floor of a gorgeous Victorian.  We sign the lease on Monday and can move in January 2.

We are going to have stairs, lots of stairs to get in and out of the place.  There just isn't anything I would live in that was on the ground floor.  Other places were boring, ugly, dirty, unsafe, tiny, felt like a cheap hotel. 

We saw this shining marvel of beauty sitting like a jewel on its street.  I immediately fell in love with it. So pristine.  I wanted it.  Marty called to see it.  The agent didn't call back, Marty called again.  No return call.  He called her office and they said they would call her and she would get back to us.  Finally after two days she called (she had been sick) and gave Marty an appointment to view the apartment. 

Marty saw it while I was doing 12/12/12 weddings. We have lived in a lot of apartments and houses in 45 years.  He knows what I am comfortable in and what I like.  He took lots of pictures and said I would love it. I hope to see it on Monday. 

After the first of the year I will start volunteering with my first graders, I really missed that.  And I will be back to a regular schedule at the marriage factory.