Hello, Neighbors

[the_other_sandy]

A different management company bought out my apartment complex last summer. They've been busily "upgrading" ever since. Apartments are getting remodeled as people move out (meanwhile, I have 25+ year old carpet and a harvest gold dishwasher from the '70s), and the lobby was just redone in that dove gray that's so trendy right now (I feel like I'm entering a prison when I get home).

Today, the landscapers came to trim trees. I have a large tree directly in front of my balcony. I've always liked it because in warmer weather, the leaves completely filled my field of view and afforded me some privacy. However, the tree had become sufficiently overgrown that two branches had encroached onto my balcony and would bang on the glass patio door if it got windy, so it definitely needed a trim. This morning, the landscapers cut off every leafy branch below roof level. Now, instead of leaves, I have a view of a tree trunk and my neighbors across the way. Guess I'll be keeping the drapes closed a lot more than I used to.

Comments

[bibliofran]

Wow. That's "progress." I can somewhat understand that they don't want to remodel an apartment someone is living in, because you (or they) would have to move all of your stuff for something like a carpet replacement. You would probably be displaced for a while if they did a full remodel. However, getting some new appliances should be pretty easy and quick!

[the_other_sandy]

I actually did get a new refrigerator and stove several years ago when I called maintenance to fix my garbage disposal and the maintenance guy freaked out over how old my appliances were. I don't remember what the hang-up was about a new dishwasher, but there was a reason they couldn't give me one. I never use it anyway, because there are only so many dishes one person can generate and it's also not energy efficient (see: 1970s). I used it a couple of times when I first moved in, but the bump in the power bill wasn't worth it.

I fantasize about moving out for 2 or 3 weeks while they remodel my apartment (especially the kitchen and bathroom), but only if they pro-rate my rent for the time I'll be crashing somewhere else. The real chore would be packing everything, moving it all out, moving it all back, and then unpacking it all again. That's the part that dampens my enthusiasm.

[bibliofran]

Yeah, if you could just shift everything into a pocket dimension for a couple of weeks, it probably wouldn't be so bad. Instead, it sounds like all the "fun" of moving without actually going anywhere. Admittedly, after last year's move, I don't ever want to have to pack everything and move again.

[the_other_sandy]

Moving was so much easier 30 years ago when I didn't actually own anything.