living in an apartment in NYC does NOT mean you’re too poor to buy a house!
TRANSLATION
If you live outside the greater NYC area, the words probably have a different meaning – they did for me, anyway, before I moved here. People live in apartments because they can’t afford to buy a house. There’s a kind of implied social class aspect to it. A co-op is some collection of resources: an electric co-op, for rural electricity; a financial co-op; a grocery cooperative, etc.
But here, people live in apartments that they rent, or that they buy. A co-op is a legal structure in which residents of a building own shares in the building – it’s kind of like owning your apartment. But it does involve ownership, even if it’s not exactly like buying a house. I live in an apartment in a co-op building that’s pre-war (i.e. built before WWII, but ours was built in 1900). Our building was built before there was a subway. I live on the Upper West Side, which has a particular flavor like all the neighborhoods in NY do – the UWS is the literary, arty neighborhood. Upper East – richie riches, ladies who lunch.
So it sounds pretty fancy! But this is NY, where real estate and space are at a premium, even in these difficult financial times. Except for the upper-est echelons, apartments are small. Space is minimal. Older buildings – the cool ones, like mine – are old! (obvious, but true) This morning, I looked out our bathroom window and thought there had been a dusting of snow, for a minute, until I realized it’s just the general layer of soot and grime that coats everything here. That’s the view from my bathroom, just below. It’s hard to see, but the railing and the steps have a layer of white-ish crap on them, and it’s not paint, and it’s not snow.
The image on the bottom is the view from my kitchen. I’m always struck by how it looks like a prison yard. Our building is shaped like a U, with the bottom facing the street and a kind of courtyard between the two ‘arms.’ It’s not a fancy courtyard that people use, it’s just a space for getting between the buildings. But that door, at the bottom left; the barbed wire; the general gloominess; it always screams prison yard to me.
But our building is absolutely wonderful, and so is our neighborhood, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than Manhattan (though I might consider Hanoi, Paris, or Cusco…). We’re very lucky.
100 posts + a giveaway
This morning I happened upon Anne’s 100th post (congrats, Anne!). In celebration, she is offering a giveaway — so hop over and leave a comment. Reading her post caused me to look at my dashboard and what do you know: I was at 99, so my next post would be my 100th post! Coincidence. So in the same spirit, I thought I’d do a little giveaway. I’ll give two skeins of Berroco Jasper, in a beautiful brown color that variegates to an orange-brown:
Berroco Jasper - 2 skeins just for you!
To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment. On Wednesday, June 9, I’ll do a random drawing at 7am, and send the skeins to the winner. When you leave a comment, the form asks for your email address, which does not show. Be sure to enter it, so I can contact you.
Of course I’d love it if you looked around the blog and subscribed, but that’s not required. Feel free to forward the post to friends, for the giveaway. If you tweet it or repost on your blog, let me know and you’ll get an extra entry.
It’s a good place to pause for a minute and say that I am glad you read, and leave comments. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Am I really the first one? Congratulations on your 100th post. It’s hard work, I just looked at my stats and I’m only at like 63 or something. Thanks for a nice giveaway. I’m off to peruse your blog now
It does look like a prison yard. I love wandering around the streets of NYC and just looking at the buildings. There are so many really interesting ones. My aunt used to live in Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. She lived in this little cul-de-sac area. It really didn’t look like it was in NYC (well they considered The City to be Manhatten) My dad was raised in the Bronx. Since we are in CT, we went to the city often. My grandpa lived on East 98th street until he died. I don’t go as often as I would like now, but plan on visiting this summer. I missed the yarn crawl of CT Ravelry’s as I had a family emergency…Congrats on 100 posts. Just checked mine and I have 163, so I guess I’ll wait until 200….
On her own blog, Tammy just wrote a post titled..What I’m Reading…
Congrats on making to 100 posts!! I like the pics of the courtyard. May some potted plants would give it a happier look. I bet you find a lot of great yarn shops in NY!
On her own blog, Hayley just wrote a post titled..1 Month Anniversary Today!!!
Congratulations on your posting century! I didn’t notice when I hit my 100th post, but I can hardly believe that I have managed to find so much to write about and discover each day. Keep on blogging and enjoying your own little space in the internet!
On her own blog, Mimi just wrote a post titled..Purse frame giveaway results, and the winners are in…
Congratulations on 100 posts!
Thank you for the translation – big cities like New York are so foreign to me (well, since I’m Canadian that’s also true in the literal sense I guess, but the rural US doesn’t seem nearly as different from home).
Wow. With reference to your courtyard post. I think i’d get the community together and figure out an alternative to the barbed wire. You’re right, it does look like a prison!
Congrats on 100 posts! I am new to following your blog but it is already one of my favorites now and I am so inspired I started my own! It’s still very very new and plain…
Thanks also for the explanation about how co-ops work as I had always wondered, I am a fellow Texan (sort of) as well. I lived in Austin when I was little (my dad was in grad school at UT) then I went to grad school at Baylor College of Med in Houston. I miss TX but I much prefer the weather in NC
Congratulations on your 100th post!
Small spaces are good — helps keep the collecting down! (Not that it’s really stopped me, mind you…)
On her own blog, yarnpiggy just wrote a post titled..Stash acquisition > stash usage
Congrats! I don’t usually comment on your blog, but I do read it regularly and love the things you post. Here’s to another 100 posts (and more!)
I miss New York. I grew up on Long Island (not at all the same as the city but I took the train in a lot). Congrats on your 100th post!
On her own blog, Paige just wrote a post titled..Progress all around!
I would love to win this for my sister in law who knits beautifully.
Congrats on the 100 posts!!! =D I’m off to look at the rest of your blog now =3
On her own blog, tiny.angry just wrote a post titled..What’s on my needles?
Gorgeous yarn and congrats on 100.
If these is international please count me in.
I subscribe and I tweeted
https://twitter.com/EVA_n_essence/status/15619881603
Great job on your blog. Wish it wasn’t over 100 degrees here…I’d love to make bread today…
On her own blog, LizzieK8 just wrote a post titled..Yet Another Oldie
Congratulations! I like catching tiny glimpses of how other people live in various countries. Voyeuristic or just curiosity fulfilled – I don’t know – but it is always interesting.
On her own blog, Karie Bookish just wrote a post titled..Time-Travelling
Congratulations on your 100th post and I love your choice of giveaway yarn – what a lovely colour.
On her own blog, Saff just wrote a post titled..FO: iTouch Sock
Congratulations on your 100th post and thank you so much for such a wonderful giveaway to celebrate!
On her own blog, Tina just wrote a post titled..Vogue Stitchionary Vol. 5, Lace Knitting ~ Giveaway
100 posts! Congratulations. Here’s wishing you 100 more!
I read about your 100th post contest on Ravelry. Congrats and thanks for the giveaway of this lovely yarn. I would love to try it.
I own a co-op in NYC and fortunately I have a great view! Trees, and a little piece of Hudson River. I live further north than you though. It’s a trade-off.
Congrats on the 100th post. When you get a chance, stop by my blog, there’s something there for you in my 6/7 post.
On her own blog, gibknitty just wrote a post titled..BB Award!
Thanks for the opportunity and congrats on 100! That is such a gorgeous colorway
[...] completely forgotten that it’s Wednesday, and I was going to select the winner of the giveaway. I just noticed, but I’m at work so I can’t copy and paste the actual image of the [...]
[...] translation, 100 posts, and a giveaway: 22 comments [...]