On Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, I closed sale on my apartment in New York City. After eight months on the market I have separated from the place I called home in NYC. A one bedroom, 900 square foot apartment with hardwood floors a view of a garden and all the sirens, car stereos and people, people, people one could want living in the city. The quiet of the Madison suburbs where I have been staying have been pronounced in comparison and a little unnerving. Although I have been living in an apartment complex, I have heard so little from my neighbors I have on occasion wondered if I actually had any. I was not used to so much quiet. Not that I am complaining mind you. I am certain I can get used to not being awaken by fire trucks and restless neighbors in the middle of the night.
So, now that I have cut all financial ties with the big apple, I am free to put down some roots in Wisconsin (granted if the snow eventually melts). As I may have mentioned previously my apartment sale was not without angst, frustration, a few additional wrinkles, gray hair, and a lot of drinking, so when I got the call from my attorney that the sale was final I was elated (well, as elated as a former New Yorker can be). Make no mistake the big apple and the state of New York took a fair bit of the profits from my sale, but now I can pursue my soon to be little house on the prairie. My little house which I will close sale on in a week.
People visit New York City for a taste of something new and different from their usual menu. What can a New Yorker do for a change of diet (other than walk to another corner), we could leave NYC (just to put this in perspective true New Yorkers would never consider this an option). OK none of my New York friends would agree, but I have (at least for now) pursued a different path. So, this former New Yorker who gave up a piece of New York will soon be taking a bite out of Wisconsin. Bon appetit.
Filed under: New beginnings
