Three months ago I checked the first item off that list when I secured a marketing job with The Economist Group - a prestigious and popular world-wide brand that attracts a lot of attention when name-dropped in a room full of single men. But that's another story.
If getting the job wasn't surprise enough, the real eye-opener came on my first day when I was told that the hours are 9 to 5. Yes, you read right: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. I came to New York City with a promise to myself that I would work 100 hours a week if that's what it took to keep a great job in this city. That said, for the first time in a decade, I have mastered the art of work:life balance. It's a rewarding challenge. I dare you to try it some time.
Job in place, my attention shifted recently to searching for an apartment. My current sublet arrangement - a furnished, too-good-to-be-true apartment in the Upper West Side - concludes at the end of May. The choices?
1) Rent an empty apartment and purchase furniture to fill it. Long term.
2) Sublet a furnished apartment. Short term.
3) Find a fabulous room-mate to rent with and hope they don't eventually reveal themselves as an axe-wielding, homicidal maniac. Short term or long term, depending on their state of mind.
It is a fact that the rental-vacancy rate in Manhattan is less than 1%, compared with a national average of around 9.7%. Compounded with the also interesting fact that two thirds of New York City residents are renters, this experience was stacking up to be more difficult than getting a visa to work in the USA. I put the word out to brokers, friends and colleagues to keep an eye out and an ear to the ground. And like most New Yorkers do, I got online and trawled through the endless postings on craigslist.com. I was determined to wrap up this little exercise in record time.
So I guess you're wondering what $2,000 a month will get you in Manhattan? Well, imagine cramming a combined bedroom/living space, kitchen and bathroom into your standard Australian master bedroom (sans ensuite) and THAT is your fabulous studio apartment. You might also have the priviledge of hearing a colourful story from the doorman when you inspect the building for the first time. Like this little corker: "I saw that construction guy fall from Trump's building and you know what? When he hit the ground, I'm not kidding, his head just popped off." The apartment didn't leave a good impression either.
My fortune came in the form of an email from one of my theatre friends. Word was out that a 32 year old composer/actor was looking for the perfect roomie to share his two-bedroom apartment in the theatre district of Midtown. Enter, me. We immediately hit it off and resolved to have the most wonderfully fun co-existence in history. I move in this weekend.
Which brings me to the third item on the list. True to my last blog about dating, I have accumulated a lot of male friends and have been spoilt on numerous occasions by doctors, lawyers, professors, finance guys... the usual repertoire of New York City men. Any sparks you ask? Well, checking that item off the list would mean defying that ol' New York saying. And we couldn't have that now, could we?
Until next time,
Kaylie
