Cozy or claustrophobic? Efficient or cramped? Organic or utterly disorganized?
How does the idea of living in such close proximity to your neighbors feel to you?
5 thoughts on “Togetherness”
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Cozy or claustrophobic? Efficient or cramped? Organic or utterly disorganized?
How does the idea of living in such close proximity to your neighbors feel to you?
Comments are closed.
What is described be “proximity” differs. I have lived in apartment houses, so called, in which the sounds from neighbors at times were a great disturbance to me. I think I accepted that since it was the right price and near enough to my work to be convenient in travel. However, I have for some 30 years now, rented homes in a moderate sized North American city. Although the relationship to landlords/ladies has sometimes caused extra time to resolve, I have been fortunate that they have been very cooperative. Maintaining a home is different than being in an apartment, I have been willing and able to live in homes where I have sufficient space between my neighbors to feel comfortable, both in yard maintenance and neighborliness. I do not enthusiastically anticipate living and sharing with others in a retirement facility.
A few years ago, I decided to sell my house and rent an apartment in an “active senior living” complex. (No meal service or maid service or assisted living – just a place where you have to be 55 and they have lots of activities.) I was concerned that I would be annoyed by noises from other apartments, roaches from other apartments, etc. That’s how it was when I rented my first apartments after college. However, I have been pleasantly surprised. Now, I am able to afford a larger unit – 2 BR, 2Ba in a more upmarket complex. Rarely see a bug, but when I do, I just turn in a service request, and the exterminator is here the next Wed. And I find that these mature adults don’t really make all that much noise. The proximity is just right. I feel neither too isolated nor too close. The only thing is that, when I go to the gym here, too often the TVs are tuned to the Fox Channel, and I find that so upsetting to know that so many people here apparently think that’s real news and want to watch it. I have stopped using the gym. But that’s not a matter of physical distance, so overall, I still think this place is a good choice for me.
Your comment “puts me to thinking”, Margaret. I am in the process of deciding where I want to be since the overload of accumulated things in the rental house is unwelcome and I’m not yet facing that fact. Thanks.
Where I live is a Camden property, and aside from the gym issue, I have been generally pleased with the maintenance, management and community facilities. Camden is a big corp. and probably has properties in you area. Good luck.
Thanks, Margaret, I’ll remember the name. I know that there are some comfortable places that can be very accommodating. The FOX news follows me too…but at the Healthplex that I attend, I also avoid it.