For Sale

October 28, 2002

I came home last night to find a big "For Sale" sign on my building. My landlord sent me a letter a few weeks ago telling me he was selling the building, but I've been in denial about it. I moved into this house with my ex-girlfriend in 1999. We’d had a great one-bedroom in Chelsea, but this new place in Williamsburg was less than half the rent, three times the space, plus a backyard! Hard to beat, but I was still reluctant. Our Chelsea apartment was rent-stabilized and on one of the most beautiful blocks in Manhattan. My ex was convinced, however, after years of living together in the small one-bedroom, that having the extra space would be good for us. Considering my ex was in the middle of a years-long secret affair, I’m not sure what “good for us” was supposed to mean. But since we broke up shortly after moving in, maybe it was good for us in some way.

In any case, this Williamsburg apartment is affordable, and since I’m still trying to find my footing, I’m not keen to move again and have chosen not to think about it. But now I have a big sign to remind me that my days here are numbered. I love my apartment. I love my neighborhood. I don't want to have to find a new one. Apartment hunting in New York is a blood sport. If I want to move anywhere, it's back to Amsterdam. Maybe I will.

I was going to post pictures here of my apartment to show why I love it so much, but I don't want to do anything that might help sell that place.