You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
~ Dr. Seuss
After a two-week hiatus, I’m back!
It was a much-needed break. My husband Ross and I were on a seriously exhausting apartment hunt. Finding an apartment in New York means being online all day, every day. The good ones go fast. It’s comparable to taking on an extra full-time job for two to four weeks. After looking at twenty or so apartments all over Brooklyn, Ross and I still didn’t see anything we liked. Well, actually, that’s not true. I saw one thing I liked in Park Slope South. It was in a brand-new building and had sparkling new appliances. (New anything is a major plus in my book. After living in an apartment that was renovated in the seventies, I’m ready for a dishwasher that cleans dishes and a refrigerator that keeps things cold.) Minutes before we were set to sign the lease though, Ross backed out. He said it didn’t “feel right.” This led to a tense trip to the playground. We watched Harry push a fake lawn mower around the jungle gym in silence. Afterwards, we hashed things out over some beers and then returned to our search. We decided that since I was on deadline for two publications, had a class to prepare for, and—oh yeah—had a thesis to complete by May 1st, Ross would do the searching (or, as we like to call it, the hunting and gathering). That lasted a day. Not knowing where I would be sleeping in a month kept me up at night. Instead of checking my email, I checked real estate websites for new listings. This addiction lasted for ten days and then came to an abrupt end last Wednesday. At 7:05 PM, I saw a new listing on streeteasy.com. I emailed the broker while Ross dialed his number. At 10:30 Thursday morning, we saw the place. At 3:30 pm that same day, we signed the lease. Our search was officially over. We’re scheduled to move to our new home in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on May 1st. Hallelujah! If I had a Valium last Thursday, I would have popped it. Instead, I had a glass of champagne after we signed the necessary paperwork and handed over a chunk of change that was painful to part with. I know nothing about Fort Greene except that it looks nice. The apartment itself is roomy. However, the appliances are not so new, and the place needs a little work. Two years ago that wouldn’t have bothered me, but after living in an apartment that also needed “a little” work (which turned out to mean A LOT), I’m skeptical about old brownstones. That said, I live in Brooklyn. Brownstones are the norm here. Ross and I have lived in two so far. Here’s hoping that the third time’s a charm!
Addie Morfoot is a freelance journalist at Daily Variety and is finishing her MFA in creative writing at The New School. Last year, her world turned upside down when she gave birth to her son Harry. Each Monday, she writes about juggling work, school, marriage, and motherhood in the Big Apple.
