Why I’m Never Living in a Street-Facing or First Floor Apartment Again

 You know, I already knew this in the back of my head, hence why I rejected some apartments that were on literal 34th Street, Manhattan or Park Avenue. However, for the apartment I recently moved into, I thought it was facing a “small quiet street” and that it’d be fine. There were some understandable privacy concerns all around that I lived on the first floor, but the building was pretty and nice (read: packed with amenities), and we could just fix it with shades.

I didn’t experience living in it overnight.

The regular 12:30 am and 3:30 am garbage collection has woken me up more times than I’d like to admit, as I sit waiting for it to be over (usually takes 10 minutes for the bottle clinking and beeping of the truck to die down). 

To make matters worse, there’s nothing I can do about it, because these aren’t even private haulers. Why it’s our government (DSNY) itself at work!

The awning lights are on all night — something for the safety of residents I suppose — which are very disruptive for one’s circadian rhythm until I finally installed blackout shades a month into living here.

I also didn’t experience living here, period.

The supermarket under construction with a permit to work starting 8 AM.

The early risers who come in and out the entrance next to my apt at 7 am, and the elevator going ding multiple times..

ALL the people both inside and right outside the building who don’t realize I can hear every single word they’re saying, because nothing is soundproof.