There are several things that make moving to New York challenging. First is the utter lack of available and affordable space. Second is the cost. And then there’s the overall dirtiness of the city (if anyone ever tries to tell you that New York is not a filthy city, just know that he/she is lying or has just become totally desensitized). The rats in the subway…and on the street late at night on garbage days. The multiple and various little bugs that might infest your apartment, or as was discovered this week, the movie theater. Being constantly late or early because subways tend to run on their own schedules.

Really, I could keep going.

The interesting thing is, though, that you just get used to those things. I know that might sound odd, but it’s true. You learn how to be adaptable.

But there are some great things about the inconveniences of living in New York. And one of those, for me, is laundry. Yes, the household chore that I hate most in this world (closely followed by unloading the dishwasher). At my price point for rent, there was no way I was going to find an apartment with a washer and dryer in the actual unit. Not only that, but my fabulous apartment happens to be in a building that doesn’t have a washer and dryer in it at all. Which means my options are hauling my laundry to a laundromat (the closest one being two blocks away), or taking it to the little wash and fold right next to my building for a little bit more money. I’m sure you all know which option I have chosen.

Are they the best laundry people ever? No. The place I took my stuff last summer was much better. But once I realized that I would have to separate my lights and darks and take them in separately (a hard learned lesson) it got much better. I drop it off in the morning and when I pick it up in the evening, it is in this lovely folded, plastic wrapped bundle that makes me so happy.

And because it is all folded and I now have places for all of my clothes (have I mentioned the wardrobe clean-out that I had to do both before and after I arrived in New York?), I put it away as soon as I undo the bundle so as not to have to fold it myself later.

It will be a sad day when I move back to somewhere that requires me to do laundry again. Or even once I can afford to live in a place that has a washer and dryer making me feel like I should do my own laundry. But for now, I will just enjoy this little perk that helps to counter all the aforementioned things that make living in the city a little rough.

P.S. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE this city and hope to be here for a long time. I just want people to realize it’s not all glitz and glam.

Having grown up in California, the beach was often part of my summer adventures. I come from a family that is part fish (I swear) and one of the things I wanted to make sure I did this summer was make it to the beach.

My adventures in New York last summer only got me to Coney Island, which is not a place I really want to go swimming (for my NorCal friends, think Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the 90s on steroids). So, when AnnMarie invited me to join her and her friends for a day at the beach a couple of weeks ago, I of course jumped at the chance.

I met the group at Penn Station (I seriously thought I was going to miss the train) and we took the 40 minute ride to the oceanside town. What I didn’t realize before buying my train ticket is that the beaches in New York cost money…and it would have cost less had I purchased a “package” ticket. I didn’t, though, so thankfully I had the $12 entrance fee. The nice thing about the fee is it keeps the beaches pretty clean.

I had so much fun. The water was a little cold, but not when you compare it to NorCal. And there’s no kelp…which means no bugs. It was amazing! Had I only though to reapply sunblock multiple times, I could have gone again the next weekend, but I forgot how different the sun is when you are playing in the ocean. I just finished peeling. Just.

Moving is not fun. Moving and downsizing is really not fun. That said, I LOVE my apartment. Thanks to Kelly who was willing to come and look at the apartment–MY apartment–I am in a fabulous one-bedroom on the Upper West Side of the fabulous island of Manhattan. But that doesn’t change the fact that moving sucks. And it’s expensive. So, at long last, here are some photos of the apartment…a work in progress.

It didn’t feel like I had that much stuff when it was all packed in the 10 ft Budget truck with room to spare. But then you pile it into a rather small living room…and it feels like A LOT.

This weird looking vented box? My AC casing. Sarah and I installed it. Ourselves. No boys to help. And guess what. It’s still in the window and still working. (Yes, I did just knock on wood…that thing was pricey!)

This was taken about a week after I moved in. Progress for sure. Although it’s looking even better now. A lot better (only five boxes to go)! Some of this is old stuff that I brought with me (mostly the cubes from Target that make up my “entertainment center”), but most of it is new. Despite the fact that I had a lot of furniture, most of it couldn’t come with me because it just wouldn’t fit.
This…I love. It’s weird to be back in a twin bed, but not because I don’t like it. Just because it is. As you can see, my view is of an alley and a building. This is true of all my windows. I don’t get a lot of direct light, but in the middle of the afternoon, my room looks like this…and it makes me happy. Plus, I LOVE the print of the girls in the water on my wall. I’ve had this print since I was 19. I purchased it while backpacking through Europe. It’s by a Spanish artist name Joaquin Sorolla. My friend Courtney, who was with me, wanted to purchase the same print, but there was only one at the museum. She was really nice and let me have it. It reminds me of my childhood, growing up in California, playing in the ocean.