Conveniences

When we were last shopping for a home – we’d lost our house to foreclosure and ultimately bankruptcy – we viewed many apartments. Attempting to remain in Warrenville, we focused attention nearby but eventually gave up and looked in the surrounding communities. We finally found one in West Chicago that would give us a chance despite our recent bankruptcy. Yes, folks! Good references do matter!

Friends scoffed at us as we insisted our apartment contain a dishwasher, garbage disposal, ice maker refrigerator, and microwave. We also wanted an in-unit laundry, two bedrooms and two full baths. Extra storage space would be nice as well as a garage.

Now you see why they scoffed! Our list of amenities was long. Oh yes, and we didn’t want stairs. If the apartment were on an upper floor, the building had to have an elevator.

So seemingly our quest would be long. And it was. After two years of searching we finally came up with the unit we now live in. It is a newish unit opened in 2006 or 2007 just as the real estate market imploded. Built as a condominium, the building couldn't sell half the units so investors were invited in to buy them for the leasing market. Our unit was occupied by one resident, then left vacant until we moved in.

Our entire wish list was satisfied. And the rent was reasonable and available for a three-year lease. The garage is heated and spacious, a storage space is just down the hall from our front door, and we have spacious closets and a walk in pantry. Our home is 1150 square feet and comes with a balcony. We are on the fourth floor and heat and gas are included. Also the water, hot water and sewer! All we pay is electric.

So everything is hunky dory!

Now a few words about the conveniences. First off the ice maker didn’t work and they had to replace the unit; same refrigerator but new ice maker. Second, the garbage disposal unit was frozen and they did manage to get it working without replacing it. So far all is good.

Several months later the microwave stopped working and we called the landlord's maintenance service. They came out, assessed the problem, agreed it needed to be replaced and handled the entire affair from there.

Most recently the dishwasher quit with an ominous noise and high squeal. We called the repair service. They sent a specialist to assess the problem and estimated the cost of repair. With its age of nearly 9 years the landlord agreed to replace the dishwasher. We await the installation later this week. Meantime we endure dishpan hands!

The plumbing is doing just fine. Oh, one of the toilets was leaking and not attached properly so they did address that shortly after moving in, but all else is working just fine.

We await further developments with the laundry equipment. Nine years is a long time for apartment-size appliances to last. So I’m thinking later this year we will encounter an outage?

So, in about a year’s time we have done without a garbage disposer, ice maker, microwave and dishwasher. None of the outages were for a prolonged time. The landlord served us very well and we have no complaints at all. What we do have are these observations.

First, dishwashers are very important. They allow quick cleanup of the kitchen following every meal even if the washer load is not yet full enough to run. Most of the time the dishwasher can be run at night without any fuss. While making coffee the next morning the dishes can be put away. Also no fuss. Without the appliance the kitchen is a perpetual mess, dishpan hands are a nasty affliction, and meals are planned around how much dish washing can be avoided!  All in all, a dishwasher is a fabulous convenience. Just try living without one!

Second, a garbage disposal is a must as well. In our building the garbage chute is just down the hall from us, so that is convenient. We need not venture far, or out of doors to get rid of smelly, messy garbage. But being able to wash food waste down the kitchen drain is best of all. Very convenient. It keeps smells, mess and grease build up from happening at all. So, the disposal unit is the second best convenience. Another must.

Third, a microwave cooks meals quickest, boils water faster than anything else, allows small meals to be prepared easily with the least fuss, and is a major convenience even in the largest of households. When it was not working, however, we were able to get around it with the least upset to our routine. Oh sure, we changed menus to adapt and were very happy when the new unit was installed.

Fourth, ice makers are not truly needed. We don’t drink cocktails so don’t need ice for that daily routine. We don’t entertain much so certainly don’t need ice for that, either. Ice is handy when it comes from an auto ice maker. But it isn't much of a ‘do’ to make ice the old fashioned way in ice trays. Just don’t run out! But the way we live that’s not very likely!!

Fifth, laundry appliances are a huge convenience. Period. No trekking out for such services. No tramping in the ice, snow or rain, either. And blessedly no more miles added to the car! We haven’t been without laundry services yet. I dread when it happens. Meantime we take good care of what we have!

Before going to bed last night I thought it had been a long time since we last had a power outage. So, in the middle of the night we had one! I have lots of breathing appliances connected to my face all night long and when those units quit working bells and alarms sound to let me know! That’s how I knew we had a power outage in the middle of the night. About a half hour later it was back on. But I wondered if it was to be a long term outage and projected how it would change our day: hand washing dishes; trips to the garbage chute; put off laundry for a day or two; no elevator service and no garage door opener. But the worst consequence of a power outage?  No computer or TV service. The computer for me is the biggie. TV outage might cause some boredom, but at least the noise would cease!  And that’s a good thing.

So, conveniences are well worth the trouble to get, maintain, use and keep. It’s a royal pain when they are not available. I keep wondering how we ever did without them all when we were kids and growing up!

Something to be grateful for to be sure.

May 8, 2015