I wrote a long meandering post that I took down. I was feeling sorry for myself when I wrote the part about the apartment
I don’t want to be known as the blogger who lives in New York and has nothing nice to say about it. Manhattan isn’t a healthy place for people without large apartments and amenities.
A person reaches an age where she tires of living like a student though one who has much money to blow on needless things like housing.
Being home would be wonderful if there was room for my stuff. It would be nice if the living room AC wasn’t already screwed up with construction dust.
It would be nicer still if I didn’t realize that most people in the country would consider this a poor person’s apartment.
It was worth it when the maintenance or amount I pay every month was a bit over $500. At twice that plus some, it’s soooo not worth it.
It makes me resent renters who are stabilized or rent controlled. A bit under 40% of my building consists of renters. They can cry if their rent goes up 7% for two years at the most with six months notice.
I’m not supposed to be angry that my monthly expenses went up 40% with one months notice.
They live in large apartments, at least the renters here, and have second homes.
I believe in stabilization. I also believe that the owners in my building shouldn’t bear all the costs
At the annual coop board meeting, the president presented the sales figures in a square foot basis which makes sense. But when costs are divided, they are done on a room basis. So I pay almost as much each month as somebody who has 300 square feet more than I do and has a view of the park and river.
When I sell and I will, I can’t get half of what they would get. When I bought ten years ago the difference in price was $40,000. I thought I was being prudent.
I was a fool.
And I feel like an idiot for complaining so much, but I was so happy when I was away, and I’m happy when I’m not home, but this is my home.
Coop boards have almost absolute power. If they stack the rules so that it’s fair to the people who own the larger apartments, but not fair to the people who own small apartments, so be it.
This is the opposite of a democracy. The thing is in person I’m very very nice, so crying to my blog is my only outlet
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I will be back, probably this Wednesday with:
And probably on Friday with: a href=”http://fridayflashback.blogspot.com”>
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It was wonderful seeing Doug, meeting G and the amazing Tali.
Blogless Sar who still is the hostess with th mostesst, Neva, Joel,Al.
MizzyB wasn’t physically there but was in spirit. We did count down the days until 7/5 when the Boho family will be back in the United States
I have to redo the links. Something in my computer added “A”s to many words and for once I can’t take the blame.
I can’t think of a better group of people I would have picked to have lunch in The Financial Center and walk around downtown New York with.
Al knows downtown better than I do. Though when we walked to The Battery itself, as opposed to Battery Park City where my niece was born, not literally, Doug asked if building was called The Battery Fort.
From my vast knowledge of the city,uh, places that have free concerts in the summer, I was able to say:
“No, that’s Castle Clinton.”
Al confirmed it.
Al also has me singing “God Bless America.” Nothing wrong with the song but I have issues with it as my parents claimed I was obsessed with Kate Smith when I was a baby. Apparently I loved her even more than I loved Lucy.
I need to unpack and find my way back to real life.
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Something is desperately wrong with this country when people bashed Sicko before seeing it, simply because Michael Moore made it. Something is horribly wrong when the name “Michael Moore” makes people crazed. I will never forget the missing seven minutes of Bush’s life on 9/11. Somehow seeing it made it more real. Thought Moore deserved many awards for that.
The state of health care in this country is an abomination. In my yearly perusal of woman’s magazines while away I read about women being denied health coverage simply because they’re of child bearing age and have fibroid. People are being denied insurance because they take medication to manage high blood pressure which means they’re much less likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
If you’re planning to move to a state that doesn’t have no fault health insurance where everybody who can afford to have insurance can, should you put off maintaining your health?
And shouldn’t insurance, or more correctly, affordable health care be a right not a privilege?
I so wish that I could believe the Democratic party was planning on doing something about this. I have so lost what little faith I had.
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I’m so much more fun when I’m out of New York, but this city does own my heart, my soul and most of my worldly goods.
Reality is overrated? O:)
Welcome back at any rate.
but this city does own my heart, my soul and most of my worldly goods.
It’s those darn worldly goods… not to mention family.
Back to reality is sometimes a good thing. I hope you got a much deserved rest.
Lucky you, I thought of Doug in NY yesterday and figured there was a party going on.
Promise “Three word Wednesday” by at least Friday and I’m all set.
Kate Smith’s an obsession alright — and Ethel Merman, too.
Great meeting you, Pia — and many thanks for filling in more that a few blanks for everyone along our forced march.
“but this city does own my heart, my soul and most of my worldly goods.” Great way to express it, and uniquely your way.
Pia, you’re grand company. That was a fine Saturday and it would have lost a lot if you hadn’t been there. Cooper, next time try not to be so employed.
Welcome home.
Battery park? Was there a guy there selling sable hats?
I admire you for continuing to speak out about health care and other issues. There never seems to be much action taken on real issues that affect real, working citizens.
Yea, someone should have explained to me exactly what it meant to be gainfully employed on a full time basis.
I’d write a book instead but I think Pia has that covered.
in person, my friend, no only are you “nice”, you’re funny. sorry i missed God Bless America. i do a mean Kate Smith impersonation, myself!
agree with you about that 7 minute brain fart of Bush’s on 9/11. put everything about his administration (and/or his inability to lead this country at all) in complete (or,should i say “better”?) perspective. can’t wait to see Moore’s newest doc. i, too am a fan of his work.
with two sons living at home, who are no longer eligible for our “family health plan”, i can tell you i’m in total favor of an health care overhaul. we have coverage for them, mind you, but it’s pricey. and, because of pre-existing conditions (depression/ADD) some things, like therapy, aren’t covered. neither is the $167.00 per month prescription BOTH boys are on at the moment (330 bucks a month GONE, just like that.) yep, i may soon need to be treated for depression, myself, because i’m totally bummed out by the whole damn thing. d’oh! xox
“…NOT only”. yeesh. apparently i can’t spell for beans today.
Your apartment problem is one of the reasons many New Yorkers moved to Atlanta. 1000$ a month there gets you a 3 bedroom apt. and the public transportation is good if you live in Atlanta proper.
Glad you had a good weekend, sounds like fun.
I see you as loving NY but disliking some of what it has become.
I’m still floating along from a wonderful get together. It certainly would not have been the same without you.
I really need to see the new documentary. Health coverage – the golden handcuffs that keeps me at my job. Pretty soon, companies will only cover employees and then what? Something has got to give and it shouldn’t be the quality of healthcare.
Loved your Friday Flashback! I have been away, my Father was here for a few weeks. I am back now and I missed ya! I have a lot to catch up on here.
Glad you had a good time away.
As for Michael Moore, did you know he almost got America to go metric: Read all about it here:
http://sagecoveredhills.blogspot.com/2005/11/bushs-new-surprise-america-going.html
(It’s a Nevada Jack parody)
Home, as they say, is what you make of it. For some of us, it’s where we store our stuff. For others, it’s a haven.
It can be an apartment or a townhome or a rambler or a mansion. It’s all the same.
The only thing that matters is that it matters to who lives there. 🙂
I consider my HOA a fascist nemesis. I can only imagine living under the iron glove of a co-op board.
Cooper, you should have asked me.
Did you know under Universal Healthcare you can be denied cetain treatments if you are deemed a high risk like Micheal Moore would be due to obesity.
Also the UK went over their dental budget in 06 so anyone needing work had to wait until MAr 07 for treatments. Although something needs to be done I am not sure I would want to leave healthcare to the discretion of the government. Some countries with socialized medicine are starting to pull back from it as it not all that great.