Do people ever think that newspapers consolidate because of the thing called TV news, and newspaper readership declines as more people watch TV news? No, it’s always blame somebody. It’s us. If we don’t buy papers why should they stay in business?
Over the initial shock. The building will have money that it has long needed. I won’t go broke and if I do sell, something that I have been struggling with for two years, it will probably be worth more.
Please don’t ever tell me that I’m a great New Yorker. My maintenance is going up in January, and for two years I will be paying $270 extra dollars in a monthly assessment. I have a small cut up apartment but they don’t charge according to square feet but rooms. Once a building obtains a certificate of occupancy for each apartment, it is impossible to change that.
I don’t pay that much less in maintenance than my neighbor who has a real kitchen, dining room and view of the Hudson. Her apartment is worth way over a million because the maintenance is fair, mine is worth much much less than that because the maintenance is excesive. When I bought the apartment it wasn’t cheap but wasn’t pricey. Nine years later and an increase each year it’s “why do I live here?”
I was considered financially over qualified. I thought that I was doing the right thing in not buying an apartment that I would have to work for, but one that could work for me. The jury is still out on that one.
I think coop things are similar to therapy or writing class and what goes in, stays in, but I honestly don’t see the need for secrecy. I am a therapist who takes a writing class, because I need the stimulation class provides. i understand the need for confidentiality in both cases. But a Manhattan coop? We’re not better than everybody else.
If we hadn’t had the fabled 500K lobby renovation, we could have put that money in a capital improvement fund as we are doing now. When I had the audacity to suggest, in 1999, that the great times weren’t going to last forever, I was literally laughed at. The renovation is a joke. Much of the money ended in pockets. Our old lobby was warm and inviting. It was deco through the decades. Now it’s ugly. The doorman’s station is a black pine crate looking thinking. Everybody thought it was an interim solution.
However it’s a full service building and ever since the super stopped coming into my apartment without notice, I have enjoyed the staff. Oh gawd, when you read this post you might think the wrong thing.
Living in a coop is similar to being directly ruled by Bush. A stupid dictatorship. The people who own the large apartments especially combined ones have all the power as they have the most shares in the corporation. Living in a very large apartment is not equal to being smart.
They don’t make decisions that benefit the most but ones who own the most. This goes against everything the word “coop” used to stand for. It’s archaic and I dream of owning a condo, preferably a townhouse near the beach.
I have it totally designed in my head. It’s an end unit with a 180% view of the beach, three storied, glass you can see out of but people can’t see in, a large kichen that takes up the first floor but has comfortable chairs and a city love seat, a library on the second floor with a study, and a giant bedroom, dressing room, room sized closet on the third. Since I love bathrooms there are at least four, two with huge showers. I waffle on what I want the soaking tub to be made out. The sinks are all bowls, two made of glass and two of stone.
I have been refining this for years but would be willing to move somewhere that entrances me and is nothing like my fantasy. A beach has to be nearby. Just has to be a condo.
When the radical right ruled the blogosphere they would have come to tell me this is decadent. What’s wrong with that?
Sex is natural. Sex rules the world. Sex between two consenting adults is wonderful. I have only had one affair in my life with a Senate candidate’s bodyguard. That was in the 70′s so I was ahead of the bodyguard craze.
Actually I might have technically had many affairs as I wasn’t legally separated for several years after we separated. Those were fun days. I wouldn’t repeat them as there are consequences we didn’t know about. On second thought…life is short and should be lived to the fullest.
I got this from the blogger formerly and still known as Bone though I do like False Messiah–his test result name. And I thought that he was so sweet. Should have known from the screenname and won’t dare go near his url.
The Playstation
Random Gentle Sex Master (RGSMf)
Easy to turn on. Hard to beat. You are The Playstation.
You’re a nice girl, and you have lots of sex. It’s therefore highly likely that you’re attractive, and you’re certainly outgoing & friendly. Plus, this healthy physical attitude of yours indicates deeper emotional well-being and stability. Unheard of. When guys dare to dream, they dream of you.
You don’t get attached too easily, and, to wit, you’re not necessarily looking for something long-term right now. That’s a bigger asset than you know. Though, physically speaking, you’re open to anything, you’re keeping your emotional side well-protected. This means there won’t be a lot of wreckage to clean up whenever you decide to settle down.
In the meantime, the men you share yourself with actually respect you. Like them, you enjoy sex for its own sake and don’t need any other validation for pleasure than pleasure itself. Hopefully, you have the good sense to blow off anyone who thinks less of you for that. Usually, this is the part of the description where we offer some life-correcting advice, but honestly, we can’t think of anything about you we’d change. Keep on f–g, partner.
Your exact opposite:
The Priss
Deliberate Brutal Love Dreamer
Hi stayed at New yorker block away from madsion garden. Wonderfull city but darling how can you live there? its so packed with people and buildings. Tho I can see why your in live with NYC its awesome. Best way to see NYC is a nice time up at empire state building what a view. such a tiny city and so powerfull. Long Live NYC!!!!
Your “Sex is natural..” paragraph immediately had me singing that George Michael song. But I’ll refrain from posting any lyrics here.
I love your head design. Sounds perfect.
False Messiah, over and out. (I’m really loving this name more than I should.)
damn. I want to be the playstation.
I am theThe Sonnet -
Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer
You are nyc city if you stay, you will be nyc if you where ever you go.
Well my dear, if anyone understands your desire to move, for a change and dreams of something more, something different, anything but this, but here and now…
… same goes with teeth but you knew that already…
Keep on dreaming, it will happen when you are ready for it my friend!
You’re a great New Yorker and would make a fine Venetian. I’m off, wanted to say bye again.
I can certainly relate to your coop woes. In my case, the board in their infinite wisdom decided to up the flip tax (when you sell your place) to 17 and a half percent for first-time “owners” (i.e. those who owned before the coop went private and market rate). From what I’ve heard, a lot of politics, bittterly rivaling factions, and a lot of self-serving shit going on. But the maintenance is still very reasonable, so I guess it’s always one thing or the other.
If you’ve never watched HGTV’s What you Get for the Money or National/International Open House, it can be a real eye-opener. With the money you might get if you sell, I think it quite possible you could get something reasonably close to your dream home.
Two words: Portland, Maine
Two more words Westchester County!
I’m sitting here wondering how the hell you made all the transitions in this post work… Nice job, Pia!
Reminds me of the time I served on our co-op board, and my favorite chance encounter with a shareholder:
SH: How come our maintenance is so high? Way higher than the other buildings in the neighborhood. Can’t we cut some costs, like, lowering the thermostat, or firing the super?
ME: Ummm, Hi, Joe, how are ya… [cut off]
SH: AND [interrupting], and, why don’t we have a 24-hour doorman? Have you looked into hiring a 24-hour doorman…?
The horror…the horror…
I’m the Boy Next Door, it seems. The Random Gentle Love Dreamer. I’ve scored all over the place though. I fit a different profile depending who I’m talking to I think.
Nice quiz results, Random Gentle Love Master.
Keep it up.
I wasn’t brave enough to take that test–but I’ve enjoyed reading your results, and Bone’s. Like the part about there not being a lot of wreckage and guys respecting you (don’t they all say that?)
I just saw an elephant fly!
I know you’d be fine anywhere, you could tell stories about California as well as you do about NY.
The expense of New York is frightening to me.
I’m a “Slow Dancer”, I don’t think that’s much a complement.
well that little quiz was more fun that it probably should have been. but then, apparently i’m a Peach, so what do i know? (oh wait, i’m a Random Gentle Love Master, so quite a lot!)
as for your moving and/or staying? dearest Pia, i believe you need to follow your heart. it seems to me you ache to be near the water, for the soothing tranquility a beachside residence has the potential to provide — but with your roots so deeply set in NYC, i’m thinking it would be very difficult for you to cut *all* ties.
maybe a compromise of some sort is in order here? instead of all or nothing, why not aim for half ‘n half? best of *both* worlds. of course, in “real life” that’s easier said than done, but not impossible. i think locking ourselves in to absolutes can sometimes prevent us from moving in any direction. (that said, with your talent and drive, i’m thinking a book deal/successful launch would allow you anything and everything your beautiful heart desires)
bottom line? be happy in whatever you decide to do. goodness knows you deserve it, my friend! xox
I’m the Maid of Honor – DGLM (Deliberate Gentle Love Master). Where in the world do they come up with these nicknames?!