It’s been years since I’ve had to live in an apartment. I went into this forgetting about what century this is apparently. My last experience at apartment living looked somewhat glamorous compared to this time around, and it certainly has nothing to do with the cost or supposed safety of the community. Paying additional fees for services that you don’t use and being promised of luxury living... isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. When I first took the so-called tour of the property is was the middle of the afternoon, while everyone was working; mistake number one ... lesson learned, need I go any further?
I was distinctively told how quiet this location was, and granted ... during the middle of the day it is. But what happens after everyone gets off work is another story. It reminds me of that commercial ... “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas”. Basically the management running the complex have the same mentality; “what goes on in our apartments beyond business hours, is on a need to know basis.” If you don’t ask, they certainly won’t tell.
Bad habits of neighbors don’t always make them bad people, but it does have one questioning it, especially if problems are consistent and obvious. Respect doesn’t seem to be in the vocabulary of some of these people, in fact I wonder if they know what the word means, (probably not).
First off, who in their right mind would leave a dog locked up in a closet for an entire weekend? Okay ... so maybe it was the bathroom, but if you can afford to pay the price of this complex, you should be able to afford a kennel if you are leaving for a couple of days. Then again, considering the source ... the owner never picks up the dog poop either, yet there are stations all over the property with bags and special trash containers for this. Then there is the home theatre system; same neighbor. It was a weeknight ... 9:30 in the evening and suddenly it felt like an earthquake hit! The walls were trembling and hanging pictures began shifting. As I sat up abruptly I began to hear screams of horror while my walls continued to vibrate. “You’ve got to be kidding me!?” I said out loud. I waited until 10:00 p.m. and called in to the answering service, because let’s face it ... some of us have to get up early and go to work. This person literally had the audacity to raise their voice out of anger in the hallway after receiving the complaint. Of course this is nothing compared to the shenanigans that really take place here, but I’m growing tiresome of the constant battle of noise.
Originally when I moved here I felt compelled to put up with a few things, being the “newbie” on the block so to speak, but now I realize it was all a mistake. I should have investigated the property further. Reading reviews online isn’t enough in today’s world, because you have no idea what type of company or hours your neighbors keep. I just wanted a quiet part of the world to retreat to so I could write and relax, but I got much more than I bargained for. When Friday finally arrives, I brace myself and have a glass of wine ... or two, maybe three. Weekend hours of partying are extremely late, going into the early morning sunrise. Oh, I remember what it was like to be younger, but I also had respect and was always concerned of the noise level if I entertained friends. Out of consideration I would normally speak to my neighbors, letting them know it could possibly be a late night so if there was any disturbance they could approach me, but that’s where “Respect” came in to play, unlike today’s generation.
So, it’s hard to live with apartment annoyances, which ultimately are your neighbors. The only real advice here ... take notes; keep a journal (documentation) in the event you might find a more tranquil living space for yourself.
Make your week count.