At some points, I really wonder if I did the right thing. Sometimes I use precedent as “logic” to justify an alternative I’ve already decided to pursue.
When I got a job on Bay Street, the “life” was completed by also getting an apartment downtown. I’m the first occupant of a new high-rise completed just a few months ago. On a high, high floor because I wasn’t going to compromise after living on the 1.5st floor of a 30-year-old building for six years.
I pay about $100/month more in rent than I’d like to. When NPY came to visit in October, we learned that (1) there are no reasonable parking options and (2) the financial district where famed Royal York Hotel is located really shuts down on the weekend. My apartment isn’t so close to Dundas Square (Toronto’s attempt at Times Square) and Eaton Centre and it’s not like Concord CityPlace at Spadina and close to Entertainment District with restaurants, lounges, life in general after 9 p.m. Aside from having an eight-minute walk to work, did I make a colossal mistake renting this apartment?
After some initial disappointment last week, my first full week in the apartment, things started to look up. LV came over for a visit after work and they showed me a five-minute shortcut to Longo’s which has a really nice market feel. A trip to the market takes me into the ACC (Air Canada Centre) complex where there are shining spotlights and there is event night nearly every night.
Lil Sis came to visit me for a “weekend in the city” and we walked north and east to see what the ‘hood offers. St. Lawrence Market is under a 15-minute walk and we were completely delighted by Kozlik’s mustard shop and the vegetable stand (Phil’s) on the lower level. The walk east on Front Street takes us past a Winners which answers the question of, “Where the heck does one get useful household stuff?” We had brunch on King Street East which is more down-to-earth than the more hip and trendy west side. It was also bitterly cold this weekend so we ducked into the PATH at King to get to Eaton Centre. Turns out when you know your way, it’s a really fast walk to the mall! While the PATH stores shut down every night after work and on the weekend, the walkway itself remains open as a warm route that is traffic light-free and I can start walking in it after just a four-minute walk from my apartment! Instant feeling of connection.
Over the weekend, I also checked out the condo gym for the first time. While I was wary after my first peek inside, actually entering and using the equipment was a joy. The gym is in a big space with plenty of treadmills and the Lifefitness cardio machines have the built-in television screens taking off nearly all the painful edge of the task–I could more than make my fitness goals with access to this kind of equipment!
The only thing missing–and it’s a big one–is NPY to continue exploring with. :(
******** This is a blog series complementing my regular blog posts with the original idea was to share our parallel lives, NPY’s and mine, while I’m in Toronto and he’s in Vancouver, 3,400 km away. For me, it’s been pretty fun because I’m this long-time blogger and enjoy repackaging parts of my life in “blog bites”. It’s been more difficult for NPY who hasn’t experienced a change in scenery (although I do not think it is necessary) so I’ll be continuing this with just my photos. I might have something every day. I might not.
On this day..
- Riveting - 2010
- Anniversary - 2006
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