Room with a View

So The Little Nolita Lady is searching for a new apartment. One of the options for her and her new roommate is a two bedroom in the financial district. Unfortunately, one of the bedrooms doesn't have windows, which is a cause of concern for the new roommate (which also, The Boy is urging me to point out, is illegal. All bedrooms must have windows. Anyway . . .) I told The Little Nolita Lady her roommate shouldn't worry about it. We've spent hundreds of dollars to completely block out our bedroom windows, effectively creating a cave. 

In fact, in New York, sometimes a bedroom view isn't that great of a thing. Just ask the West Side Beauty. Her new neighbors have taken to spending time on their roof, with a perfect view of her bedroom. She can see and hear what they are doing and . . . well, you see the problem. 

So my message to The Little Nolita Lady's future roommate - take the apartment and rejoice that you don't have to buy shades.

Houston, we have STORAGE!

After two years in the big city, we have reached a turning point - extra storage. I know to people in other parts of the country, storage is no big deal. You have extra closets, or a garage or an attic. For New Yorkers, closet space is limited and precious. Many apartments only have one closet for the whole space. That means it must store clothes, shoes, coats, suitcases and everything else. We built some extra closets into our space, and when our linen closet was finished, I cheered!  But we still had a bunch of junk we were storing in our fire escape on the sly. So when we found out this week that a storage bin in the basement had opened up, it was huge, and very welcome, news. 

Crane Your Head

I think many of you heard about the crane collapses here. I still can't believe they made national news, but that's another story.

Anyway, when I was walking around today, I saw this big bad boy, and it really blew my mind. I think because this building is so narrow itself, and the crane is so high - probably 50 or 60 stories. It inspires awe at both the ingenuity that enabled cranes to be developed, as well as the potential for disaster we now know is possible. They are doing new construction on my street, but thankfully it's only a 5 story building. Like many in other neighborhoods, I would be less than thrilled to have this in my back yard.

Snow Day

Snowing out my window.

The Doorman Dilemma

It is the season of giving - giving tips to Doorment and Super's, I mean. We had heard about this tradition of annual giving to those folks who help you out each year. And what a great idea! Saves you from having to dig in your pockets each time someone does something nice for you.

While the sentiment is certainly very clear, the reality of how to go about giving the tips is not. Do they get pooled together? How much is enough? If I don't give enough, will I get bad service the rest of the year?

It's a big question, and a big deal for these guys. If each one of my doormen gets an average of $50 from each resident in my building, that's $3000. The doormen in the West Side Beauty's building stand to make $5000 for their efforts.

I tried to find some guides to tipping, but I mostly asked around. The consensus was to give a range of $25 to $50 depending on how much interaction you had with them throughout the year, and how helpful they were.

Still, we spent a lot of time thinking and talking about how to handle this whole thing. It's another of those unique New York rites of passage.

Our New Kitchen

Dig our new kitchen with the rockin' glass tile back wall!

Moving Day Is Set!!!!

We've inked the deal. We are MOVING IN on July 6!!!

Yea!!!

Apartment Update

New walls should be up today. The existing walls and trim should be finished next week, and the floors the week after that. We're just able to measure for the kitchen cabinets later this week, so that will take a little longer to complete.

I'm planning to move in at the end of June, but our stuff probably won't follow until July. Ugh.

Finally!

The Board finally approved our renovation request. Yea! Now, barring any issues with our contractor, who has been patiently twiddling his thumbs waiting for the OK to get moving, we should start the demo on Monday. (audible sigh of relief)

My new relationship

The new apartment is like a new relationship that's getting serious. Slowly, I'm starting to bring over little things - shampoo, brushes, running shoes, beer, soda.

The pace has quickened in the last weeks, and we've even dropped an airbed at the place.

We spent our first night in the city - buying beer and ordering takeout Chinese. The next morning I had a great 5-mile run in the park. Spectacular.

Soon, we'll take the next step in our retail relationship - we'll install a TV.

Apt. Renovation Milestone

We FINALLY found a contractor!

We have the contract and are submitting to our board for approval to begin renovations.

Fingers crossed! We are moving in by end of April no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT!

Renovation Saga Continues

After many conversations, we have contractors willing to entertain our price range (you know, the one NOT in the stratosphere.) The boy and I are trying to get to Brooklyn to look at cabinets for the kitchen because they are apparently cheaper out there. But still, no start date or move in in site.

The weather warms up this week, but this project is still stone cold.

Judgement Day

The day arrived without fanfare. The day that The Question would finally be answered. The day we had been waiting for for a month: would we or would we not be accepted into our co-op?

We had been told to:

• Dress like we were going to an interview
• Answer any questions about renovation vaguely (in case someone on the board lived next to us and didn't want to suffer through the renovation noise)
• Prepare answers for why we had come to New York, why we chose the neighborhood, etc.
• Be our wonderful selves
• Ensure we weren't late!

The meeting was at 6:30 in the apartment of one of the board members. To ensure we weren't late, I met The Boy near his office at about 5:20. We arrived at the station near our new home at about 5:35. We had some time to kill, obviously. Even during rush hour traffic, we had made good time!

So we headed to a near Starbucks and reviewed our financials over a couple of mocha's.

At a little after 6 pm, we started walking up to our building. We hung out in the lobby until 6:28.

The Boy called up 11F and they buzzed us in. We were greeted and shown inside to an apartment on the same line as ours, so identical in every way except this one had been renovated. And it wasn't purple inside.

We were introduced to everyone and sat down, waiting for the interrogation to begin.

"Why did you move here?"

They asked the question I was supposed to answer while I was in the bathroom, but The Boy did an admirable job. It worked out for me, though, because some additional board members arrived and I had to answer the question 2 more times before we were done.

"What kind of work do you do?"

"Why did you choose this neighborhood/building?"

"Are you planning to renovate?"

We decided to be a little more open about this question because we are, in fact, planning to practically gut the place. But they seemed really open to it, and our host even showed us the updates she had made to her place.

They asked us if we had questions. We asked a few and that was about it. Meeting over. The management company would let us know the next day.

And so we were judged. Were we found worthy? We were. We close next week. Yea!

An Arm and a Leg

We got the word yesterday that our board package has been submitted to the co-op board. Now we wait 4-6 weeks for it to be processed and reviewed before we are called for an interview. Then we wait to see if we are 'accepted.' Here is what we had to provide in our board package:

• A copy of the executed contract of sale of our house in Houston
• A certified financial statement with supporting schedule, including bank account statements, 401K statements, stock portfolio overviews, etc.
• Employer's reference letter stating lenght of employment and annual salary
• Bank commitment
• Disclosure Statement
• AZTECH Form Recognition Agreement
• Bank reference letters for savings and checking accounts, stating type of account and amount on deposit
• Three personal reference letters
• Three business reference letters
• Present landlord or managing agent reference letter
• Most recent 1040 tax form
• Lead based paing disclosure form
• An application fee of $500
• A vial of blood (just kidding!)

National Lampoon's Moving Adventure

Scene 1.

Fade in.

A house in the suburbs of Houston. A handsome man in his 30s is drinking coffee and talking to his mother - a beautiful, blond woman - and his Aunt - an equally attractive redhead. It is his last day in town before he moves to New York.

Mother

What time is your flight?

Son

In two hours. I just need to put the cat into her carrier, and we can be on our way.

A ruckus from upstairs disturbs the tranquil morning peace.

Mother

What was that?

Son

Oh no! It's the cat!

The son rushes upstairs as fast as he can go. In the bedroom, he hears the hissing and spitting of his beautiful but misunderstood cat Meow, but doesn't see her. A less attractive younger cat darts out the door just as the son walks in.

Mother

What happened? Has she gone mad?

Son

I think the other cat upset Meow and now she's hiding under the bed in a rage!

Gingerly, he reaches under the bed to try to coax her out, but she spits at him like a mountain lion.

Son

This won't be easy. Get me a towel from the bathroom. There's only one thing to do.

Mother

Are you going to wring her neck?

Son

No, i'm going to cover her head with the towel and hope that will disorient her long enough to get her into the crate. But you're gonna have to pull the bed from the wall. It's the only way I can reach her!

His aunt and his mother pull the bed from the wall, and the son throws a towel over her head.

Son

Gotcha! Now, to the airport! My flight leaves in an hour! Hurry!

Scene 2

The family lets the son off at the airport. He carries the cat to the animal check in section. He grins with pride at the new cat carrier he just bought.

Airport Personnel

I'm sorry, sir. You can't use that cat carrier.

Son

But I just bought it and I'm so proud of it!

Airport Personnel

Like I care. Give me your credit card and I will charge you for this 'deluxe' version that is the same size, but I get a kick back.

Son

Ok. Fine.

Scene 3

The son arrives at the airport lugging two large suitcases and the gigantic, overpriced cat carrier. His telephone rings. It is his wife.

Wife

Hi honey!

Son

Hi!

Wife

I have a surprise!

Son

What?

Wife

We are picking you up at the airport! You don't have to take a cab.

Son

Great! I wasn't looking forward to lugging all of this stuff. Where are you!

Wife

We are outside!

Son

I'm outside. Do you see me?

Wife

No. Do you see me?

Son

No.

Wife

What airport are you at?

Son

LaGuardia. What airport are you at?

Wife

Newark.

Son

Sigh.

The End

House Hunters

OK. I've calmed down a bit from the last post. I was just sitting there the other morning and it hit me: i've really changed my life!

Not only did we sell our house, which we loved, but we are in the process of purchasing an apartment in Manhattan. After a few weeks of house hunting, we have finally come to terms with moving from 2400 square feet down to 800.

We used the requisite brain washing techniques on each other:

• We only use a small portion of the house anyway
• We needed to simplify and streamline
• I like the 'minimalist' point of view

Indeed we've begun to exclaim with joy when we encounter a closet that will hold more than two weeks of clothes for both of us! We chatter excitedly when the bathroom is large enough for a linen closet. If more than two people can fit in the kitchen, it is truly a reason to celebrate!

Once this new way of looking at the world was complete, we put an offer on a place we think will be the perfect home to transition to. It has:

• lots of windows so it seems larger
• a foyer so it seems larger
• an eat in kitchen so it seems larger

Interesting side notes: In Houston, the other agent doesn't have to be present to view a place for sale. In Manhattan, the other agent must be present, so it makes scheduling a bit tricky. And, the realtors don't seem to work on Saturdays. Most showings are done Monday - Friday. And, a lot of realtors take Friday off too. Inspections aren't a required part of the buying process. In most cases, it's what you see is what you get.