I haven’t lived in an partment for many years, decades actually, and don’t think I could right now. One of the favorite retirement things my wife and I do is watch TV series, movies and live concert DVDs. We have a “muscular” sound system and, at the levels we listen, especially metal music, we would be evicted in no time, I fear. Home ownership can be a pain though and I envy you the ease of maintenance you have but we’re going to rock hard while we can.
When I read the comments/replies here, with some of it referencing wife and I, I had to sign in and say something. First, when you don't complain, most people will do whatever they want and get away with making noise. Many have no respect for their neighbors, when living in an apartment. "Don't like the noise I'm making, move!" And, they don't care if that noise is at 2AM. Second, if you do talk to a neighbor about a problem, and they do nothing about it except to say "I'm sorry", then just what does an apartment resident do? Apartment managers are in the front office for a reason, to take complaints and do what they can to solve them. As I've stated before, not everyone can afford a house, especially when they are retired and/or need other things, like a newer vehicle, healthcare and on and on. I can tell that a lot of undesirable/noisy apartment renters would love most of you here. You don't complain and let them do whatever they want to. That just isn't us.
When I rented a duplex in Long Beach, someone from a highrise next to us parked in front of my garage. If I didn't plan on going anywhere, I didn't care, but I did pay attention to it and observed which apartment he was going into. When he was parked there when I needed to go to work, I knocked on his door at 6 am, because I was working the day shift at the time, to ask him to move his car. Rather than being apologetic and simply moving his car, he grumbled about my waking him up so early in the morning. The next time he parked in front of my garage, I didn't wake him up. I had his car towed. I didn't bother my landlady with it, and I didn't bother the manager of the highrise he was living in. I just got it done, and he never parked in front of my garage again. As for noises and such, I am not easily bothered by such things. I just consider that to be something that goes along with living in a place where three of my walls, my floor, and my ceiling, are shared with someone else. Sure, there were times when I was annoyed by thumping from the ceiling above, or by someone having a party next door to me, but it wasn't going to kill me. If you want peace and quiet, get a place of your own in the country. Anyone who can afford to rent an apartment in a large city can afford to buy a place of their own in the country.
The noise I agree with. It directly impacts our lives. Other stuff needs to be left alone. And noise control might be one issue where apartment life provides an advantage. I've been subject to a noisy dog issue that was costing me sleep for an extended period of time. When the violator is a home owner, there is not a lot of teeth in the law (nor really should their be on private property.) And this guy was living elsewhere and remodeling the home and had a German shepherd staked out in the yard all alone 7x24x365. I'd walk over every day to give it a little human interaction and to keep its water bowl full. The cops actually asked if I had a gun (implying they would turn their heads the other way if I shot the innocent dog.) I told them to get the S.O.B. to stick his head out the door and I'd fix the problem, but I don't think they have the authority to let me do that. They just looked at me. At least in apartments there's the threat of eviction. And as I've said, the odds of a fellow renter moving when the lease is up are a lot greater than the odds of a nearby homeowner selling and relocating.
A lot of prolific writers here especially the guys, I could go on and on about all the places I've lived and tell stories about them, but none of you care so I can't imagine. And it's all history so what the heck....
A couple of neighbors here in town got involved in a long-running feud. I think it started with one of them complaining about the other's dogs barking at night. After several calls to the police department, he set up bright motion-detected spotlights that would come on whenever the dogs were on the side of the house facing his. The spotlights were mounted so as to shine in the dog-owning neighbor's windows. The neighbors installed mirrors that, I think, would reflect the light back at them. There were several more calls to the police and both sides were cited for one thing or another a few times, and they both spread their hatred for the other around town at every opportunity. I suspect they both had a good time with it and it gave the whole town something to talk about. I believe both of them did a stint or two on the town council, although not at the same time.
At fifty, unless we take grapeseed extract, we have more behind us than we have ahead of us, so history can be important.
There are some who have rented the houses I manage whom I have suggested they buy an acre or so of property out in the county and have a used mobile home hauled in. One couple with 3 very wild kids did as I suggested and from what I understand, are doing quite well.
We all love a good 1st person account of this stuff. It's universal common ground. And it is funny that this is one thing the guys have so much to say about. As I often say, I'm not anti-social...I just don't like people. So many times when I mention I'm isolated on over 50 acres, the guys say "Man, I'd love to be that remote, but my wife..." *grunt*
Isn’t all that matters is that you’re happy with your living conditions? What I like or dislike has nothing to do with you as a person and I mean no disrespect to you personally when I write how vehemently I hate apartments. Now, I do realize that the question being asked is how many of us actually live in one but as a side I simply wrote what I wrote because I have lived in a couple and my experience with them isn’t as grand as yours. Should I ever be faced with having to live in some seniors based apartment then I do hope it is somewhere that I will like as much as you like your present apartment.
If it wasn’t for the snow and some health issues, Yvonne and I would have moved back to her Idaho property long ago.
Hey Bobby, it's conversation, and a simple comment is good and not long stories are not what I was looking for. I don't care where anyone lives, having a roof over one's head is a good thing. And good grief the "hate" for apartment living...sounds like what a scourge...
When I moved to this remote place, I was still working for a job 100 miles away near DC. When I'd go back for meetings, I would use ear plugs and a sleeping blindfold (how can so many people in a nice hotel just let their doors slam????) If I had to go back to apartment life, I guess I could wear those.
When I read psychologists, they always say that women deal with isolation better than men, but when I speak with homesteaders here, it is the women who have trouble with isolation.