Apartment Life

For me, apartment life is completely new and an adventure.

Life on one floor is  much easier; everything is at at reach and doubling up is the norm. The computer goes into the bedroom, along with desk and semi four poster bed. The guest room is also the sewing room and storage for anything that doesn’t fit into the four storage closets in the hall.

And the hall has room for some of my books and the vital bundle-buggy

The view is amazing.

When my six kids were young and eating like starved mules, I used to dream about having two stoves in my kitchen. Two ovens, eight burners—sheer heaven. Now that there’s just me, I bought a stove with two ovens and I use both. Okay, I have the family over for dinner most Saturdays so I really have a need for two ovens. I’m sticking to that

I still live like a semi-hermit with and, surprisingly, I  find it pleasing to know that there are families living all around me and that we have to co exist.

There`s a protocol for sharing an elevator. You nod or say "hello," and whoever gets off first says, "have a nice day,``or a simple “goodbye” will do.

Pets are allowed in apartment buildings and this does not sit well with all residents. Dogs are inclined to bark while their owners are absent and that might be for nine hours or more.
They're all pretty cute in my opinion. I am wary of the creepy guy who lives on my floor and apparently has a few weasels and reptiles, which he mentioned one day while we shared the elevator. I never took my eyes off him in case something slithered out from his sleeves.

Early on the mornings that  I’m trundling my laundry down to  the second floor, dog owners are heading out  for the morning run. Apparently it’s stylish to wear flannelet pyjama pants when walking the dog. I guess they’re comfy and the animals are really anxious to get outside, but it looks a tad strange
.

I knew that laundry machines cost two dollars so I was armed with a bunch of toonies only to find that the machine takes two loonies,. Nothing but.

My building is on the old side as are the majority of the residents. In the late afternoon, the lounge on the first floor is the gathering place for many. Walkers are parked in the corridor, coffee is purchased in the variety store next door, and everyone shares the day`s events before moving off to make dinner.
 As yet, I haven't joined this group—I`m a loner remember, but it could happen.

An ambulance shows up often and sometimes someone is carted away for repairs and sometimes there is a police presence to keep pet owners and non- pet owners from bashing one another with their canes or cell phones.

There`s a pool and I plan to try it out one of these days. There`s also a small gym and ----well, it could happen.

Across the street there`s a small, beautiful park and on either side there`s the theatre for cultural events and the main library. How  perfect  is that?

I remember with glee strolling across to see a Diana Krall concert and thirty minutes after the final curtain call, I was in bed.

It’s because I’m the way I am, but before I felt so isolated and now I feel like part of a the whole. It’s 
a good feeling.