Insider Outlook

OK, we have been in the city for several months now, so I guess I can finally write about it without sounding too giddy. First off, I may need to explain what a major lifestyle change this is for both of us. I have driven to work for twenty years, he has slaved long hours with everyone else in his office, and I have always gotten all the groceries from a single store.

Now, we live in Ukrainian Village, a neighborhood just West of the Miracle Mile. It has such an exotic name for a reason, just like Greek Town and China Town. I am not sure some of our neighbors can actually speak english, but I do know they are really suprised to learn I speak only English. I guess I look Ukrainian. Who knew?

In the new place, we finally have more modern utilities and a swank kitchen/living room area. Steam heat and window unit air conditioning were charming, but God bless central heat and air. We also have a great balcony off the back, with plenty of room for a gas grill and nice furniture. Plus, the fancy shower and hot tub aren’t too bad either. We are pretty happy.

Now I take the bus to the Blue Line, which goes right to the office. Joel is a stay at home actor. I do work at home three days a week, and Joel is around when he is not in a class, auditioning or rehearsing. It seems that it is my turn to be the stable one. He has always worked long hours in a cubicle and worked endless hours when a deadline was approaching. I have always been the one to set my own hours and be totally flexible. Now, that is his curse.

We take the bus when we can, and I only get the basics at Dominicks. We have a little store nearby for fresh meats and dairy, there is a Russian deli down the street, and all kinds of specialty shops in the nearby environs. There are meat shops, bakeries, cheese and wine shops, and all manner of ethnic supplies. Needless to say, we have almost never eaten the same thing twice. This is especially true since we got the grill.

I think these Southern boys may have adapted just fine to the big city life, but the tale is just starting to be told. Just wait for him to get us into the broadway/musical scene so thick here in the city. Oh, the stories we will tell.

It hardly seems like three years since we moved here, but it has been. We got more snow today, and we are going tomorrow to find a new apartment somewhere in Bucktown. We have some time yet, but we are making the best of the time we have, which is a nice departure from the last move. We are coordinating storage, location and negotiation tactics much more tightly than last time. Things are about to find their way to boxes, stuff will be going to storage, and the dross will be tossed. We have accumulated many new large pieces of furniture, so we will have some new challenges we didn’t have to manage last time. No matter what, we are ready for our new adventure close to our friends and the pulse of Chicago.