quality of life

Photo by PoPville flickr user JRoseC

Dear PoPville,

I was reading responses from Friday’s Question on how much do you make vs. how much debt do you have. While I was writing my response, another question came to mind…My shortened response and question:

I lived in DC for 2 years (09-11) paying $1350 a month. I know I could find something for less, but I lived in crappy shitholes all throughout college and I just really wanted something comfortable and a place I actually wanted to be in. Here was my thinking…I could afford the rent and all the other experiences (some unnecessary) that came with living in the city, but I was saving nothing! I turned 25 and started looking into going back to school and purchasing a new car (which I do need for my job) and realized I had no money in my saving and the thought of incurring a giant debt was making me suicidal (not really, but ya know). Sooo, I bit the bullet, moved back home and started to put money in the bank. I have now paid off and finished the school program I decided on (and could afford) and almost have enough money for the new (HYBRID!!) car I want. I know there is a stigma about grads, or in my case 4-5 years out of college, still living with your parents, but honestly I think it’s a smart move if you have the option and can tolerate it. Personally, it was one of the best decisions I ever made because for real…SHIT’S EXPENSIVE! Thoughts about the whole “I’m 26 and still live with my parents” situation?

So, is being in your mid twenties and still living with your parents totally cool these days or a big N-O? I tend to feel that as long as you are working toward something, it’s totally fine.

Dear PoPville,

We moved into our rowhouse apartment about a year ago and were pleasantly surprised by how quiet our neighbors were. Unfortunately that changed a few months ago when new people moved in next door who love to party, playing loud music and having large groups of people talking loudly on their back patio late at night – over the weekend AND during the week. We’ve tried talking directly to the neighbors, asking them to keep it down at night (they blew us off), telling our landlord, who spoke to their landlord, and even have called in noise complaints a few times, but nothing has seemed to get the message across.

Short of moving to a new place, we don’t know what else we can do. I’m all for people having a good time and like to go to a good party myself, but when its on a regular basis and keeps us from sleeping, it gets pretty exhausting after a while. It seems pretty ridiculous that we should have to go through the time, money, and effort of moving while they get to continue keeping everyone up at night having a good time… Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Néstor Sánchez Cordero

Dear PoPville,

I was walking home Monday and was in front of the wide and quiet (meaning maybe two people in somewhat close proximity to me with no one in front or behind me) sidewalk in front of Luke’s Lobsters when all of a sudden I feel a sudden grab at my arm. It scared the shit out of me–who grabs someone? Ends up being this young woman jogging behind her friend who was passing by me. Startled, I yell after her to not &%&ing touch me.

She doesn’t turn around but I see her and her friend stop at the intersection just ahead and, because I’m a fast walker, I catch up with them (they were heading in the same direction as me so I didn’t go out of my way) and stop her and tell her what a stupid idea it is to grab someone like that. She snarks back, “well if you weren’t in the middle of the sidewalk…” First, it’s a wide sidewalk and most people walk toward the middle instead of right next to the buildings, second, I was walking in a straight line at a good pace, not meandering, and third, all she had to do was either *use her voice* and say, “on your right” or “excuse me” like a normal person OR slowed her pace for half a second to allow for whatever room she lacked to get by without grabbing a stranger.

She clearly didn’t get it and stared at me with a dumb grin on her face, then told me she wasn’t interested in talking to me when I tried to explain that she was very lucky not to get an elbow in the nose attempting something like that. I’m so annoyed by the stupidity in this city sometimes. Is this a common practice among runners? I walk EVERYWHERE and have runners go by me all the time, on crowded and not so crowded streets and not once has any of them even brushed past me.