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61

@DonnaL, wonderful to have you back! I’m sorry that you have been facing such losses and challenges.

I have thought of you often. I am so glad to hear that your S is working in his field and pursuing it further. So much for all of those who claim that a major in art history is a ticket to the bread line! :slight_smile:

My S continues to buck the STEM-or-starve trend also. He went to Columbia School of Journalism, and despite a complete lack of experience, graduated with a reporting job at a regional paper where he has a byline virtually every day. A great first job, and more to the point, he continues to be certain that he is doing the right thing.

62

Welcome back, Donna! It’s great to hear from you again. I’m so sorry about your father’s death. It’s so sad that he was not able to attend the award ceremony. I sympathize about the hospital thing, and I could add a similar horrifying story to all the others that were posted, about my 80-something mother. There were multiple errors and my two sisters, who live near her and were managing her care, ended up taking turns staying with her in her hospital room for the last part of her stay. They didn’t leave her alone for a second. She would not have survived otherwise.

I’m sorry about your job loss, but I feel sure you will end up somewhere where you’ll be much happier. I’m crossing my fingers that you get the apartment. It sounds wonderful!

63

Wow, oldfort, what a trying time you’ve had. Here’s hoping 2015 is a banner year!

64

I honestly haven’t read all the pages of posts…but I’ll comment on the OP. Donna…get rid of the books. I know that might sound like heresy,but really, moving several thousand books is beyond a headache. If they are really valuable, and you plan to donate them someplace…do it now. It will simplify your life. I do t know your son, but I can tell you, my husband and siblings helped his parents purge several thousand books. It was hard to convince them they didn’t need them all…but they didn’t need them.

Save your son the aggrevstion of having to someday deal with this.

As a lawyer, can’t you find a job working for a non-profit, or some other group? You would net some income and it could be for an organization you value.

Or use the skills you have to do something more in the fun side…work in a shop, or something like that.

65

Unfortunately, I didn’t get that apartment. My application was fine, but the landlord gave it to “a friend of a friend” of his instead. I knew it sounded too good to be true! The broker “feels bad,” and is looking for something else for me. As I told him, I kind of need to get this resolved pretty soon.

66

Damn.

67

That’s a bummer. :frowning:

68

It’s definitely a disappointment. As soon as I heard this morning that all of sudden the “landlord’s friend’s friend” was in the picture, I had a bad feeling. Why don’t I have any friends who are landlords?

I am told there’s a possibility for a similar apartment on the other side of the building, but the drawback is that there’s no elevator on that side – it’s a third-floor walk-up. I don’t know if I’m willing to do that at my age!

69

Oh, Donna. Hope that it is just a temporary setback. Moving is such a pain.

70

And finding an apartment in Manhattan requires divine intervention.

71

Well crud, we were all excited for you. Im sure you will find something great and soon. The walk-up might be better than you think. My MIL is on the third floor and has an elevator option but uses the stairs 90% of the time as a fitness thing. She’s 86.

72

Welcome back! Hugs to you… And one step at a time. Please do something “special” for you everyday.

73

There IS something to be said for fitness in the 3 flights of steps. It’s also more secure and you will have fewer solicitors. My inlaws had very few willing to brave the 66 steps to their front door!

74

Walk-ups aren’t so great if you have to carry laundry up and down.

75

Decisions, decisions!

I saw both the walkup apartment and an apartment in a different (elevator) building (with the same landlord) today, and told the broker that I would try to let him know later this afternoon what I’ve decided Supposedly, whichever one I choose is mine, because this landlord has already seen my application and documentation, as well as my credit report.

Of course, I’ve been told that before, so who knows!

So these are my two options; whichever one I choose, I will have to pay one year’s rent up front.

Option A:

$2150/mo, 1-yr lease, rent stabilized

3rd floor walkup (32 steps)

2 BR 1 Bath

880 sq. fit

3 closets

Dishwasher

Advantages: vs. Option B:

Less expensive

Slightly larger

2d bedroom is larger

New renovation (in fact, apt. currently under construction,
so I haven’t actually seen finished apartment)

Dishwasher in kitchen

Slightly closer to subway

Drawbacks:

No elevator

No laundry facilities in bldg

No trash rm/chute on floor; trash
must be brought to basement

Less closet space

Longer walk to get to supermarket, drugstore, etc.

Moving company charges more
because it’s a walk-up; greater distance from current residence

Option B:

$2500/mo, 2-yr lease, not rent-stabilized after
lease expires

4th floor in elevator building

2 BR, 1 Bath

820 square feet

4 closets

No dishwasher

Renovated ca. 10 years ago

Laundry room in basement

Trash room/chute on floor

Partial Hudson River view

Advantages:

Elevator

Laundry Room

Trash rm/chute on floor

More closet space

View

Shorter walk to supermarket, drugstore (both < one block away)

Slightly better/safer block

Move less expensive (elevator bldg; shorter distance [one block from current bldg])

Drawbacks:

More expensive; not rent stabilized

Slightly smaller

No dishwasher

Less recently renovated

Slightly longer walk to subway (6 min vs. 3 min)

I am definitely having trouble deciding, especially since I have no idea how much longer it will take me to find another job, or how much it will pay. If that weren’t a factor, I’m pretty sure I’d be happier with Option B (especially in winter, or at the end of a long day when I’m exhausted, or when I’m carrying laundry or groceries up the stairs or need to take garbage to the basemen!). But of course that is a factor.

I think I’ll go take a nap, and see how I feel about it when I wake up. I would love to get it basically resolved today – it would be a relief, and I would view it as sort of a birthday present to myself. (For the first time, I refuse to say how old I am today, which I supposed is sort of a clue all by itself! More seriously, it will feel quite strange not receiving a birthday phone call from my father for the first time.)

76

Happy Birthday,Donna. Birthdays are hard for missing parents.
Hope you had a peaceful nap and have arrived at a decision that feels good to you.

As my birthday present to you, I will not try to sway your decision.

ETA: Are both units empty or will move in availability have any impact on your decision?

77

I agree with mominva. Some of us might have a preference, but it’s for you to decide.

And happy birthday!!

ETA: Sounds like both of them are fine apartments. I don’t think there’s a wrong answer.

78

I tend to be pretty risk averse, so I would have a hard time deciding. I know you have had some serious health issues in the past. So the building with the elevator seems like a better plan in light of that. Yet I would also be risk averse in taking an apartment that is not rent controlled… I am sure you have thought of this and more reasons to go back and forth. Have you asked your son’s opinion?

79

Trash chute, elevator, and laundry in building is a LOT more convenient. More closet space plus view sounds nice. That would do it for me, assuming that other things–how the kitchen is outfitted, attractiveness of finishings, light and general atmosphere–were equal. Would the difference in moving costs make up for much of the rent differential?

Happy Birthday!

80

Have you seen both places? Do you like one more than the other? Will 60sq ft make a significant difference in useable space?