Really....?

I looked at a few apartments today (in case you didn’t know, I’ve just moved back to Arizona temporarily) and sometimes I find it interesting what people think are great features or amenities. I’ve always thought this way but I think it’s more in the forefront of my mind these days because I’m thinking about all the amazing PCVs. One place was really proud that they had lots of valet offerings, including valet trash. It’s not an option - you have to pay for it whether you use it or not… I don’t think this is an amenity, I think it’s ridiculous. They pick up trash in front of your apartment Monday through Friday. Really? I have one bag of trash per week - one small 13-gallon bag - I don’t know what other people are doing that they create so much trash but maybe that’s something we should be thinking and talking about. Having ‘valet trash’ picked up every day may be encouraging this kind of waste. Honestly, I don’t know how you make one bag of trash per day - I didn’t have that much with a family of 4. Also, think about it - this means a very smelly garbage truck is going to be huffing and puffing in front of your apartment FIVE DAYS PER WEEK! Besides the obvious waste of petrol, etc., I don’t want that - it’s major noise pollution. I don’t see this as adding any value to the apartment complex, I see it as the complete opposite. Just me……?

Another had popcorn ceilings. Well, not truly the old fashioned popcorn ceilings but close. Why do I hate them so much? Is it because they’re old? Is it because I equate them with asbestos? Disgusting. On top of it the walls were yellow. They would call them off-white, I would call them yellow. Have I ever mentioned I hate yellow? It makes the place look like it’s old and in need of a wash. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer if it was old and in need of a wash, I think. At least then you’re reusing something and making it new again. I don’t want to live in a place with yellow walls and a popcorn ceiling.

The third place was lovely - perfect location, tastefully done, lots of open space and no trash nazis. Lovely Spanish Mediterranean style, WHITE walls and quiet. But, because of its particular Scottsdale location, it offers LOTS of concierge services - which thankfully you aren’t forced to pay for (as my previous rant about the trash). Still, reading the concierge list, I wonder what kind of people would be my neighbors. Are they incapable of dialing a phone - or, at worst, asking Siri to assist them? This particular apartment community will arrange everything from spa services to plant care - I think there’s a list of about 30 items. While I look at this list, I am amazed at how my two little LR5ers have changed my life. Kelly wrote on her blog about how she was learning to wash clothes - properly, from a native. It sounded like she was using an old scrub board (and I was wondering if they had a mangle too…) Apparently this is a fine art but she finally got the nod of approval - but not without much practice first. And here I am looking at places to live that offer ‘dry cleaning and laundry pick-up’. Really? I get it that people are busy and this may be a great service but looking at it through a different lens, are we truly too busy to pick up our own clothes - that we have had someone else launder? If we are, maybe we’re doing things all wrong. We talk about first-word problems and even hashtag it when we’re complaining about something that we know we really shouldn’t be complaining about. But is it possible that #firstworldproblems truly are the bigger problem…? WE are the larger problem? If we had less #firstworldproblems, perhaps there would be fewer third-world problems - our priorities would be in the right place and there would be a better distribution of resources.

Food for thought - while I continue to ponder how people can make so much trash…