vykim's Profile

We gave up a lot for our first purchase, but that condo was just love at first sight: gorgeous building, gorgeous unit with tons of character, high ceilings, fabulous sunlight, gut renovation (and we were there in time to pick our finishes)...

But it was a 1 bedroom unit (we were looking for 2), there was no private outdoor space, the location was just a few blocks away from where we really wanted to be, and it cost more than we would have liked (but less than our cap).

We sold it four years later, still loving the unit but needing a better location. I still think fondly of that place.

We're lucky to have 4 grocery stores within walking distance: Jewel, Whole Foods, a local chain (Treasure Island), and Trader Joe's. I think a mini-Walmart just opened near us too, but I have no desire to check that out.

We shop weekly at Whole Foods because it's closest and because we like the perishable stuff (produce & protein) there the most. But we also shop at TJ (even though it's the farthest from us) monthly for coffee, wine, nuts, and dried fruit because these items are so much cheaper at TJ than at WF.

There's a lot posted here with which I agree. Some stuff that hasn't been mentioned:

I love it when Neil Gaiman narrates his own stuff, but Lenny Henry's reading of Gaiman's Anansi Boys is just awesome.

I've listened to both Fry and Dale on HP and I prefer Dale.

Stephen Briggs reading PTerry's Discworld books are wonderful.

Cherry Jones reading of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books is just sweet.

Hugh Fraser (aka Hastings) and David Suchet (Poirot) have each read a large number of Agatha Christie mysteries. I love them both. Christopher Lee also narrated an Agatha Christie short story collection and is wonderfully creepy.

Michael Palin narrates his travel books based on his BBC shows.

Tim Curry reading Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was a huge improvement over the author's reading.

Netflix is still the best when it comes to commercial-free viewing: the most content and the most flexibility with respect to viewing options (TV, tablet, smartphone, computer). The other alternatives fail either in terms of lack of content, commercials, limited viewing options or some combination thereof.

How are these "over the top"?

Looks great, except that the couch is right up against the A/C unit!

Within half mile (and preferably a quarter mile), I must have:

1. Grocery store(s)
2. Public transportation (preferably an L stop)
3. A variety of inexpensive restaurants
4. Dry cleaners
5. Zipcar(s)

Instant turnoffs:

1. Low ceilings. We've got five 92" tall bookcases and we walked away from an otherwise wonderful apartment (top floor, central heat & air, in-unit washer dryer, tons of character, sunny & huge deck, new kitchen, hardwood floors, fantastic location) because there was no wall space for book storage.

2. More than four blocks to groceries. We're carfree and grocery shop on foot. I'm also a lazy person who doesn't like to go outside for very long in the winter. That means we need a grocery store very nearby. I also like having a farmer's market within four blocks.

3. No cats allowed. I won't even look at an apartment that doesn't allow cats.

4. No outdoor space. We like to grill a lot. We even like to grill in the winter (and in Chicago, that's really saying something). So at a minimum, we need someplace to put our grill.

5. Cookie-cutter. Rental stock in Chicago is plentiful right now, so there's no need to settle for boring, cookie-cutter units.

6. More than four blocks to a train station. Again, we're carfree, so easy L access is essential.

I'm sure there's other turnoffs I'm forgetting right now, but these are what spring immediately to mind.

@Jason Yang: Yup. If we were awakened with an emergency, a pillowcase would be the first thing handy to put the cat in, at least temporarily until we could either get back in or make it to a pet store.

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Cat-Comfort-Bag

I like the "disposable wardrobe" idea in theory, but I've pared down my wardrobe such that I don't have any disposable pieces!

I always pack light, in a canvas duffle that can fit in the seat in front of me if there's no overhead room. I don't want to do laundry when I'm on vacation, so I pack enough underwear to last the trip. But I'll wear pants or dresses twice or thrice, I pack small camisoles so that I can re-wear cardigans or other knits, and I never pack anything that wrinkles. Oh, and I almost never travel with jeans: they're just too bulky and heavy.

I rarely pack an extra pair of shoes: one pair of black ballet flats is appropriate almost everywhere. On the rare occasion when I'm doing something active (e.g., hiking), I'll wear appropriate footwear on the plane and pack those black flats.

I almost never shop when I'm on vacation. We pick up one wine bottle stopper as a souvenir, take lots of photos with digital cameras, and that's it.