Well, I did it.
This past week I signed on the dotted line for my new rental apartment, which puts me happily back in the downtown area.
Initially I went for a larger unit, but I made a calculated decision to scale down, materially, for the next twelve months or so. The plan is to see if I am comfortable enough to continue. If not, I can always upgrade.
Either or, this was a choice.
*******
I made an appointment at 11:30 to get my keys and parking number. By 11:50, I had processed my final bits of paperwork with Lana, my leasing BFF.
Ever notice how leasing people are very much like your local bartender? Somehow you find yourself sucked into their life story, so much so that they end up doing most of the talking and you’re left with the bill.
*******
Anyway, Lana took me up to the 10th floor, set up my door access code, embarrassingly removed left-behind mini fans, then, rapidly vanished to rinse and repeat her day with two more of her newest besties.
And me?
Well, once alone, I lasted all but 3 minutes before leaving myself.
*******
Spoiler Alert: The following is absolutely a grand display of what I call my “precious ass” and absolutely can be categorised as my first-world problem.
Moving on …
*******
First and front: The place smelled like wet dog from the dried but steam-cleaned bedroom carpet.
I expected new paint or a new carpet smell. I did not expect Fido’s parting gift whiff.
*******
As mentioned, there were mini fans actively blowing in the unit. Which means Fido’s lingering perfume wasn’t only just up my nose.
*******
Opening the balcony door, and this took me a few seconds … the view was not the river view I saw from the video. Instead this view is a sea of industrial rooftops below and a big ‘ole orange crane straight ahead.
*******
The toilet top was on the sink. And, when I put it on toilet, the toilet did not flush.
*******
Here’s an odd one. On rubbish day, rubbish is placed outside your front door. What exactly does that look like when there are 20 rubbish bags waiting to be collected in every hallway on each floor? And more so, what does that smell like?
*******
Also, the leasing office window had what looked like a rock thrown through it. You wouldn’t notice it from the inside because the blinds concealed it, but I parked my Jeep outside in front and there it was.
*******
When I walked in for my appointment, the smashed window did raise a penalty flag.
24 minutes later, I bolted out of there with a bag full enough to support a league of referees.
And I haven’t been back since.
*******
It’s not that any one of the things are show stoppers. Though I will say that the view and the toilet both could have been more “as advertised.”
I was just disappointed.
This was supposed to be easy.
I was looking forward to ticking the box next to something that didn’t require me wearing rose coloured glasses whilst I fixed the glitched.
I mean, it’s a relatively new building. I toured 6 units during my visit there. I drove by like 4 times to see how the area looked at various times and days. I was not deterred by the occasional angry tenet online review.
I took one look at that place, and I did what I do when I sense being caged: I ran for the hills.
And here I stand. Pause on this foot hill since then.
*******
I hadn’t expected that reaction. I walked in so prepared.
So, I’ve taken these past few day to do a bit of soul searching.
I chatted with Marty. I looked at where I am and where I need to be. I regained perspective about what is precious, and what is just a broken toilet valve.
*******
In about an hour I am going back over to my new place to give it a second chance, and see if I can locate that metaphoric gap that let’s me in.
I mean, if I can be inspired by an orange. I sure think I can find inspiration in a large orange crane.
Right?
Happy Sunday.