Canned Goods under my bed.....

So living in New York has its challenges. I knew that when I decided to move here but I think this week the realities have hit me pretty hard. Don't get me wrong. I love living so close to Central Park. I went running around the reservoir this week several times. That's the pic for this post. The weather is so beautiful now. While running near 5th Ave. it seemed like a beautiful blizzard of white snowflake-like petals falling.

I also have joked that I feel like I live in a movie some days because directly across the street a musician endlessly practices his saxophone. So, I walk to my own jazz soundtrack most evenings after work from my subway stop.

I no longer wear my puffy coat, gloves, and scarf. I don't even need a jacket during the day. The spring breeze is welcomed to subdue the smells of the city. Don't we all wish we used dial? Don't we all wish people really would curb their dogs and people wouldn't pee in the subway stations?

So the smells have started to greet us at midday but the noise is also a major adjustment. This city really never does sleep. I'm so thankful for where I live. Though it is still Manhattan, it is not midtown. Praise God. For the most part I can hear myself think at my apartment.

Space is an amazing issue. I've been so spoiled. My own room and bathroom for years. I've had moments of sheer, internal anger just because I didn't want to see another person. Tricky living and working around 19 million people. I read this morning that midtown Manhattan is the most densely populated place in the world during a work day. I believe it.

That feeling of anger has never happened in my life. Well, not to that degree for something normally so easily managed. Stores are packed. Trains are packed. I got to know a guy on the subway this morning pretty well. Not by my choice but because we were sharing the exact same space on the train. I'm sure a few folks thought we were dating or just really good friends;0). At least he didn't smell!

Sharing a three bedroom apartment with 4 girls has actually been okay until the last week or so. I have finally hit the wall and just need some time alone. Time with silence. Time with Jesus. As far as my stuff, I've made the space issue in the apartment work. I'm using every inch of my space with creative strategy of storage.

That is one thing New Yorkers will talk to strangers about: Tricks of survival. Everyone loves to share their secrets of how they make life here work. It is like we all belong to the same club called, "How to survive this !BLEEP$ city!" One of the best ones came from my small group leader. If you leave something at her apartment, shared by her husband and 4 children nonetheless, it can be found under the couch. She returned Pyrex dishes safely stored under the right end of the couch!

As you know I started this blog to share little thoughts about life in the big apple. My emotions run the spectrum from sheer delight to deep disgust. The city offers distinct, diverse opportunities found no where else yet simultaneously the city offers intense challenges to seemingly simple tasks of doing life.

My conclusion thus far:
The marines: the few, the proud, the brave. New Yorkers: the rich, the poor, and the smelly. So for now I'll just continue to enjoy living 2 blocks from Central Park while storing canned goods under my bed!