Apartments Are Homes, Too!

I don’t miss owning a house. I do miss the sense of freedom I had when I lived in a house. When you live in an apartment, there are all kinds of things that make it easy to not miss a house, such as having someone readily available to make repairs 24/7. I like that! And I don’t have to worry about who to hire to make the repair or the cost of it. If the disposal isn’t working, call maintenance. Have a problem with the internet, call the office and they reset it. 

With that upside, though, the trade-off is not having the freedom to enhance your living space, sometimes in any way. That can be a very difficult adjustment. I am still reeling and dealing with this one. I am allowed to paint, sort of. This means even if I plan to live here for the next ten years, when I move out (even if it is in a body bag from old age, which I hope won’t happen in the next 40 years) I have to make sure the walls are returned to the condition in which I took possession. And it might be hard to match that 10-year old paint color. 

They don’t even allow me to install my own light fixtures, even if I hire an electrician to do it. I find this to be very discouraging – every time I walk into my apartment, I am greeted by those ugly boob lights at ceiling level. I hate them. And, it does affect how I feel about being “home.” It completely sends the message that this is a temporary residence, plus, did I emphasize how ugly those lights are? It’s as if Management is expecting me to move.

Do we want our residents to look at apartment living as always temporary? 

I do miss having an attached garage. Not that I putter, but it would be nice to have a place to hammer and construct my projects without completing taking over the dining/kitchen area (which incidentally is the only tiled area so if I spill something, clean-up is easier.) I have a carport space that I pay for, but I can’t really store anything there, plus they keep raising the rent of the carport every time I turn around. They don’t even give you a lease for the carport, except at move in time, which guarantees your rate for that first year. After that, the price can and does, often, go up. This is frustrating. 

There is the perception that if you live in an apartment, you don’t really live there – it’s just a place to stay until something better comes along. I don’t like this thought at all. Why can’t your apartment be the “something better” that came along? You know what I wish? I wish apartment communities created private outdoor entertaining spaces where you could invite friends and families for an impromptu cook out gathering – and not at the Clubhouse. I’m talking about green space with updated, modern, outdoor kitchen areas with nice outdoor furniture and good lighting options so you can actually spend time there. Including a fire pit option would just tickle me to no end. When you have a house, there is usually a deck and/or backyard area to do this in, and I do miss that. My family used to have some great outdoor parties.

I think people want a simple life away from work, to be happy, to be free to dream, play, create and enjoy just “hanging out” when “home.” I just wish Owners, developers and management companies placed the emphasis on designing homes and not a temporary “rest stop.”

Home Is Where My Heart Is

What happens when you don’t like the company that buys your community? I mean, do you have an option of just not accepting an employment offer from the new owner/management company? What if you don’t have any other offers on the table? This is what I am facing now. And it’s tearing my gut up to the point that I want to scream, and cry, or God forbid, just give up. Or, do all three. I realize I am probably not supposed to be saying this, at least not out loud. L

I hate that this is all such a secretive thing. It is just not fair to have all these questions and no answers. Yes, ranting out loud, and there is nothing to do except continue the job search and try not to worry about what will happen to “my baby” and all the work that has gone into making this such a vibrant, fun community all while ensuring it keeps its charm and its quaint and thoroughly relaxing, peaceful feel.

I see the word bantered back and forth about the definition of community. Wow. Just come here! Oh! My eyes to the heavens soar – this place where everyone does seem to know one another, where if you’re feeling sick your neighbor will bring you soup. A place where I have wandered over to the neighbor next door to grab an egg out of her refrigerator because I stupidly forgot to buy some at the Kroger down the street (and who wants to have to actually put shoes on – much less make-up – to run to the store again?) A place where a couple of the neighbors sit outside with a flat screen to watch The Ohio State football game on the patio and down a couple of beers, laughing and relaxing. A place where there is clique of little girls sitting in the Gazebo giggling and playing. A place where when I am here on a UK Basketball Game Day, no one cares that the TV in the Leasing Office is televising the game and I am sporting my Blue! Go Cats!

If I cannot be at home in my house in Indiana, here is home. It’s where my heart is for now and I suspect a little piece will remain no matter what happens.