An Apartment Search: Finished

When I first moved to Manhattan many years ago I took the only apartment I could afford—a sixth floor walkup in Hell’s Kitchen. I didn’t know much about the different areas of NYC but knew that the one by Port Authority where I’d catch the bus to NJ was skanky. I recall being a kid and watching drug addicts slump over stairs as my bus pulled down 43rd St. I wondered what it would be like to live on Ninth or Tenth Avenues. I was scared but titillated.  

It was a big move, from a 1200 sq. ft. apartment with a backyard that I paid $650 for to a small railroad atop a building in disrepair that cost more than double, but I did it because I had always dreamed of living in NYC. The week I moved I lost my job and my boyfriend left me. Not to worry—that’s how NYC welcomes you. 

I’ve found that it has a way of weeding out those that can’t hack it rather quickly. The crazy thing is, one would think when you pass its test it’d be easy sailing. Not so. NYC will test you as often as it wants. 

From Hell’s Kitchen I moved briefly to Brooklyn (hated it) to Midtown East  (hated it) to the Upper East Side (love the apartment but the area not so much) and always longed to be back to the area where I started my life here. Everything was new and exciting back then. And new and exciting things make me panic so I also think of that time as a stressful trying one and yet oddly one that I have always wanted to get back to.

How that area has changed! Once the cheapest place to live, it has been totally gentrified. Still there are some bargains if you are willing to take odd apartments. I’m all about odd. 

After seeing about 50 apartments, many in that area, on a whim I went to see one last night and the minute I walked in I knew. I could tell that it was quirky—like me. It is long and has a huge kitchen, bathroom and living room and between there are two tiny windowless bedrooms. Who’d want a tiny windowless bedroom, let alone two? Yet, the thought of sleeping in a safe little panic-room-like cave makes me very happy. I could see how it would be hard to rent to roommates or couple, but I needed a place that was big, cheap and with the place for my washing machine and office; this fits the bill.

I realized, upon looking at Google Street View, that I will be living over a 24-hour massage and tattoo shop boasting Russian and Asian techs.

And just like that, I knew I found home.