Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with living Questions tagged with 'living' at Ask MetaFilter. Wed, 29 Jan 2014 08:51:50 -0800 Wed, 29 Jan 2014 08:51:50 -0800 en-us 60 LivingFilter: Western Town, Outdoorsy Girl After living the nomadic life for many years, I'm starting to think about settling down again. Search criteria inside. Access to skiing is important, doesn't have to be the most epic, but it must be very accessible. Climbing areas, wilderness areas, bike paths, great hiking, a sea kayaking or sailing culture are all desirable-- but I know that it doesn't have to hit all of those notes.<br> <br> I'm an outdoor educator and permaculture enthusiast by trade, so a community that supports such work-- lots of kids, farmer's markets, a college, an airport not too far away, other tourist draws-- would be great.<br> <br> Cost of living not too expensive, I'm never going to make much money, and I'd love to have some land someday. Anything from a large town to a small city would be fine. I want to be able to walk around downtown, and not have to drive everywhere...arts and culture of some sort...definitely in the "west"...<br> <br> I grew up in Seattle, and am not really interested in moving back there, the long gray winters combined with the traffic and big city feel are not what I am looking for now. But there are other places in WA, I just need some sun in the winter, it doesn't have to be warm all of the time.<br> <br> Thank you, Hivemind, for your insights and suggestions!,2014:site.256167 Wed, 29 Jan 2014 08:51:50 -0800 home Life living outdoorsy search town west grinagog Vive la France! yes!! Vivre en France? well.... maybe California instead Looking for advice on cost of living in France (South of Paris, Nice or Toulouse area). Partner and I would be making €120 to €140,000 combined household, before taxes. Another option is California where we could make way more money (at least $200-$220k combined, and less taxes). What is the cost of living in California (Irvine or San Diego) as a comparison? Is it expensive to have kids in the US? My partner and I are considering a move to France. We work in high tech, and recruiters have quoted us salaries of €65,00-€75,000. He is a Canadian/European citizen. I am in the process of acquiring EU citizenship myself through the consulate. So visas won't be an issue. I'm also fluent in French. His French is pretty good. We've traveled there extensively, we know the culture etc etc. So we know we'll like it, we just want to know how much we'll bleed money in order to be there.<br> <br> Location: Nice, Toulouse; also some options south of Paris (Corbeil)<br> Household income: €120k to €140k approx. <em>before taxes</em><br> Household: two adults, two cats; will have kids in next couple of years<br> Lifestyle: when we buy stuff, we like nice quality things; but really we just like to cook &amp; live simple. But we don't want to live in a cramped house or apartment. We like space.<br> Goals: saving for retirement, kids in the next few years, having a relaxed life (work to live)<br> <br> <strong>France Questions</strong><br> - what are rents like in these areas? housing prices? is finding a place for 1,000sq ft out of the question? we're open to being outside of any downtown core in order to get a livable size. <a href="">this is what I've found so far, and it's in the €380-€485,000 range.</a><br> - mortgage rules in France? how much deposit, insurance etc? <a href="">This is what I've found</a>; it looks like 20% down payment with a risk of having to look outside of France for a mortgage broker since we are not French citizens.<br> - cost of living? are household goods expensive?<br> - taxes? Will 50% of our salary go to the government? <a href="">this is what I've found so far on tax rates.</a> It looks like €140k quickly becomes €90k for the two of us.<br> - what are the tax breaks? if I contribute to RRSP / 401k do I get a break?<br> - kids... if we have kids in a couple of years, what is the support? In Canada for example there is 1 year maternity leave that is supplemented by govt and unemployment insurance. All I see so far is a whack of tax breaks for having kids in France, but I don't know what the employment rules are.<br> - is health coverage comparable to Canadian system?<br> - cats... how to travel across Atlantic with cats? I live in a huge house now, would they be happy in a small 1000sq ft apartment?<br> <br> <br> Another option for us is California (Irvine or San Diego area). Our estimated salaries there would be <em>at least</em> $100k-$120k USD each (so $200-$220k household). I don't know the US tax system, but I gather our take home would be much higher than France (or Canada for that matter).<br> <br> <strong>California Questions</strong><br> - I hear the cost of having children (healthcare, lost wages) is astronomical in the US. <a href="">This report makes it seem like the medical cost of having kids is $32,000</a> (but only $2,200 out of pocket, which seems low... maybe that's the cost of the birth itself but not pre-natal care). Is that true? How much have you all paid?<br> - I would likely quit my job for 1 year in order to stay home with the baby and then go back to work (i.e. emulate the Canadian system), so wages lost there.<br> - how much is healthcare costs? I am Canadian so I know nothing about American healthcare. Do I just buy healthcare insurance and pay a monthly fee? And then fight with the insurance company each time I want reimbursement?<br> - Cost of living (housing) in Irvine or San Diego. Will we live in a teeny tiny house 100 miles away from work?<br> - Is the commute as horrible as everyone says it is?<br> - will it be fun? any ex-pat Canadians who went south please chime in here<br> <br> And finally overall... what would make the most financial sense, and the most overall "quality of life" sense. We're in our mid 30s so growing our retirement is important.<br> <br> Experiences &amp; anecdotes welcome... Thanks me-fites!!,2014:site.255236 Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:05:37 -0800 California cost costofliving France healthcare living tech St. Peepsburg Where to live in the UK this summer My spouse and I are interested in living in the UK next summer. We'd like to stay for three months, and we're looking for ideas on where to live and how to approach organizing this visit. Ideally, we'd like to find a place where we can be part of the community, rather than just constantly traveling around the country for three months. We plan on taking our bikes or renting bikes there, but otherwise will be relying on public transportation.<br> <br> We'd like to find a smaller city or town. We're from the U.S., and we've visited London previously.<br> <br> At this point, we're trying to be as open as possible in our brainstorming, so I apologize in advance if this is overwhelmingly vague.<br> <br> Tips, hints ... is this a crazy idea? How would you approach this?,2013:site.254187 Mon, 23 Dec 2013 12:53:39 -0800 england living scotland summer tourism uk visit wales foggy out there now is it safe for me to live in this neighborhood? I finally found a place in Brooklyn that seems perfect with one catch: it's in a semi rough area. The thing is I can't seem to get a clear opinion online of exactly how unsafe it is. It's a nice room in a beautiful brownstone with a friend of mine. Rent is 650 for the room utilities included. The location is a couple of blocks away from the Gates Avenue stop on the J/M line. He's never experienced any problems. He's an Asian dude. <br> <br> If it matters I'm a young white woman and I have a job that will require me to often come home around 11pm during the week. <br> <br> Tangentially I was also wondering if being an ethnic minority in a rough neighborhood presents any problems. I asked this question on another board and was blasted for being racist.,2013:site.254183 Mon, 23 Dec 2013 11:37:44 -0800 apartment living ny race timsneezed Hope me with Housing in NoVa? Renting. Buying. Should I get a mortgage even if all the house I can afford right now in the Northern Virginia (NoVa) area is $120k to $150k (according to two different calculators)? My situation at home is a bit precarious right now so I want to explore my housing options now that I sort of kind of have the means to do so. ...But do I really have the means to do so? Hope me please!!<br> <br> For a bit of background, I'm female, 24, and I have never lived by myself. Ever. And I'm a little freaked out by it, so of course, I have no idea what to expect with the financial implications. But I definitely get the general sense that it's expensive around here in the NoVa area. It seems like most of my peers are renting around $1300 at the low end and $1900 at the high end (without counting utilities). I know this can be offset by living with roommates in a house/apartment but for reasons I'd rather not go into, that isn't an option for me. I also can't live with my boyfriend either (at least not right now) since he makes about a 1/3 of what I make after taxes and wouldn't be able to pay rent. He lives at home currently and his parents are definitely cool with it. And no, I wouldn't dream of living with him and his parents, too awkward!. So it would be just me, myself, and I. <br> <br> Financials:<br> - Each month I make $3k after taxes and $2.4k after my 401k contributions. My salary is $56k but it doesn't feel like it goes too far.<br> - My parents probably would be to provide $10k+ towards a downpayment. <br> - Student loans have been aggressively slashed down to $7k and minimum monthly is $80.<br> - No credit card debt<br> - Free credit score from AmEx guesstimates it at 740. Hopefully it's actually much higher.<br> - Not currently paying for cell phone but it would be $60.<br> - Not currently paying for car insurance and have no idea what it would be.<br> - Have taken care of my own medical expense for years.<br> - Current expenses for gas and groceries are $120 and $100 respectively. Can be adjusted once that dang Silver Line opens (work can pay for public transport). <br> <br> Other considerations:<br> - Currently work in Herndon, Va. There are offices in DC of course and I could be transferred or find another job there/all over NoVa.<br> - Currently living in Arlington near East/West Falls Church (grew up here and I still get them confused). <br> - Not qualified for anything (vet, public service worker, disabled, etc.)<br> - I am not very adventurous or nomadic. At all. In the slightest. I prefer to be plopped down and for my roots to grow deep. <br> - If money were no issue I'd buy the nicest craftsman style house in the City of Falls Church. <br> - I have lived in apartments before...and I actually enjoyed it. <br> - I don't have to live in the lap of luxury. Just safety and a reasonably nice little nest. <br> - I could probably be described as very frugal, especially by my peers.<br> - I could entertain the possibility of living in a condo/townhome while raising any future kid(s). So can my boyfriend. <br> - Most likely will marry said bf in the next few years, we've discussed things. I am ok with the money he is making now. And the money I am making now. He thinks we will earn significantly more in the future. For me, I have the potential to make up to 80-90k if I keep it up in my career (next 4-5 years maybe?). Would most likely aim for above 100k though to support us in the future if we have kid(s).<br> - He is also similarly attached to this area (NoVa) as I am through family and friends. <br> - No repair or handy(wo)man skills. Could learn the reasonable stuff though (open to it anyway).<br> - Read Mr. Money Mustache and a few other early retirement and PF blogs. But I cater it to my own personal situation, I don't follow mindlessly (and no I don't think anyone else does either, just saying).<br> <br> So..whats your advice? I need some perspective from more experienced folks and I would love to hear from those who transitioned from living with the parents to buying and from living with the parents to renting, especially in a big and expensive housing area. I have heard the sentiment that you don't own the house, the house owns you and well, that's a little terrifying tbh. But I still want that option on the table to explore. Is it a pipedream? Can you even buy a place to live around here for between $120-150k? What would be some concrete next steps? Are there even realtors who want to sell homes that cheap around here?? I've looked at low income rentals for Arlington and it's still around $1200-$1400 and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't qualify as low income. I feel so frustrated, hopeless and really overwhelmed. Please hope me! <br> <br> Throwaway if needed:,2013:site.253477 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:17:11 -0800 buy buying homeownership housing living NorthernVirginia NoVa rent renting Anonymous Living in Las Vegas I'm moving to Las Vegas for a few years. I have a lot of experience living in tourist towns and dens of vice, but I've never lived in the desert. (I've been more of an ocean person.) Tell me what I need to know to get up to speed as a local in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the desert. What, from a local's point of view, separates Las Vegas from other cities? What did you wish someone had told you before you moved there? I'm not going to be working in the industry, and I won't be interacting much with tourists. (Well, they're everywhere, but my project is with locals and I'm pretty much over the whole <em>Vegas Baby!</em> Las Vegas.),2013:site.253129 Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:45:35 -0800 desert lasvegas living moving nevada vegas Ookseer Where should I live? Looking for a home in a gay marriage state. I've been trying to leave Atlanta for two years now, but I just don't know where to go. My wife and I have decided to make moving to a gay marriage/strong gay rights state a priority. Right now, that would be California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, Washington and Washington DC. It also seems like New Jersey will be joining this month and any state that is very likely to join the team in the next 2-3 years is worth considering as well.<br> <br> I'll try to keep this short and organized.<br> <br> My family - East coasters, southern at the moment, but I don't know if that will stick. <br> Her family - Kansans. <br> <br> Needs: <br> -<em>access to nature</em> of the quiet, relaxing, exploring variety more than sporting. Think casual hiking and swimming vs. rock climbing and skiing. We love parks, urban trails, leafy streets, etc. as well.<br> -<em>jobs</em> in the art/design/creative/communications sector. I'm a graphic designer, she's an illustrator.<br> -<em>affordable</em> cost of living. See above. : ) Honestly we both grew up in very low cost areas and the idea of ever buying a 400k+ home seems ridiculous. I know that rules out a lot of cities. We don't need to be in the best, coolest, safest neighborhood ever though.<br> -detached single family homes with at least a small yard. We like <em>privacy and quiet.</em><br> <br> Wants:<br> -some level of <em>walkability and charm</em>. That being said, <em>we have a car</em>, and we don't want to give it up.<br> -<em>milder weather.</em> I don't care for the cold, she doesn't care for humidity. We know we will have to compromise here.<br> -easy drive (5 hours or less) to multiple outdoor recreation areas (mountains, ocean, lakes, whatever) as well as <em>proximity to a few other sizeable cities.</em><br> -<em>family friendly</em>. We want kids in a few years.<br> -<em>down to earth</em>, friendly culture. <br> <br> Misc. Data Points:<br> - Atlanta checks several of our boxes: gay friendly (but no gay rights to speak of), good size, some affordable cute neighborhoods, decent job availability. We should really like it. But the culture of the city bothers me. It is too image focused. Also I abhor the traffic. Mostly it just doesn't feel like home. I feel bad criticizing Atlanta, like it is a romantic partner who tries really hard to please you but you just can't fall in love.<br> - I like Kansas City okay, but it is just so isolated and I'm afraid of getting bored. I also felt like I was the weird, loud, quirky friend when I lived there, even though I don't particularly think of myself as being any of those things.<br> - We wanted to like North Carolina, but Asheville has no jobs, Durham felt way too small and sleepy, and Raleigh felt like what Atlanta must have been twenty years ago. And, of course, the deal breaker is again the lack of legal protections for our family.<br> - My wife loves Portland, and in theory I'm a fan of the Pacific NW, but I'm concerned about the rain, the lack of jobs, and that we're probably already priced out of Portland.<br> - I am really interested in Minneapolis, but my wife thinks I wouldn't last the winter and she is probably right.<br> - We are essentially homebodies. My priorities are a pretty, comfortable home, a supportive, friendly community, a stable job, and enough urban amenities to keep us creatively stimulated and entertained.<br> <br> So I am looking for neighborhood, town and/or city recommendations in a gay marriage state (or state where you think gay marriage will happen any day.) I am open to pretty much anything, except please don't try to convince me that Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, etc. are actually really gay friendly. I agree that there are cities and neighborhoods almost everywhere where we would feel comfortable, but we're really looking for legal protection at the state level as we get serious about starting a family.<br> <br> Thanks for chiming in!,2013:site.250194 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 05:44:09 -0800 California cities community Connecticut DC Delaware family gay Hampshire home Iowa Island Jersey living Maine marriage Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota moving New Oregon Rhode Vermont Washington York ohsnapdragon How can I get released from my lease agreement? When I moved into my apartment with my roommate, the manager at the time said we could remove or add roommates as we pleased and could even add a roommate and remove ourselves off the lease completely if we wanted to move away before the lease was up, so long as we notified the manager and signed a form. I am considering moving out before the lease ends. We now have a new manager and when I checked with her, she says this is not true, that I cannot be removed from the lease at all even if my roommate agrees to it. However, I looked over my lease and it seems to say that I absolutely CAN do that, as long as everyone agrees. (See extended for the exact lease quote.) My lease expires January 2014. For a variety of reasons, moving out would be the best choice for me and I cannot wait another six months to do it. <br> <br> When I looked over my lease, it says this:<br> <br> "<strong>OCCUPANCY</strong>. The Tenant agrees that only those persons listed below shall occupy the Premises:<br> <br> <em>[[[ My Name; My Rooomate's Name]]]</em> <br> <br> No person shall be released from the covenants of the Lease without first obtaining the written agreement of the other tenants and/or cosigners Set forth herein and written approval of changes from the Landlord. If such changes are agreed upon, all parties herein agree to make the necessary changes to the Lease before changes are valid."<br> <br> To me, this says that so long as my roommate agrees and the manager signs off, I am allowed to take myself off the lease and "be released" from the legal obligations of the lease. I didn't have my lease in hand when I called the manager (I was at work) so I wasn't able to refer to the exact language when I talked to her. She said that I am legally responsible for the rent until the lease expires in January and there is no option to add/remove a person. She said that's "corporate policy." <br> <br> Am I misinterpreting or is she being difficult? I know You Are Not My Lawyer, but any insights? Help me get out of this place! I hate it.,2013:site.247828 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 18:13:01 -0800 apartment landlord lease living rent rentals renting brista What's the best way to darken an east facing bedroom in the morning? I just moved into a new apartment with an east-facing bedroom, and the blinds on the two windows (one is horizontal, one vertical) do a terrible job of blocking out light in the morning when I'm trying to sleep. Installing curtains over them would probably help a bit, but I'd imagine the gap between the window and the curtain is increased by the presence of the blinds and will thus prevent an effective seal, especially from the sides. What's the best solution to really block out the sunlight in a way that's easily put aside when I wake up and am ready for all that sunlight?,2013:site.247784 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:44:50 -0800 bedroom blinds home living Vexir What questions should I ask when going to look at a flat to rent? What questions should I ask when going to look at a flat to rent? (Living in the UK.) So..... after moving out from my folks' place, I went to uni and shared a flat with four people I'd never met before for a year, which was then repeated for the second and third year of uni. Those were some bad times; not getting on with them and having people steal my shampoo/conditioner all the damn time. I also like to keep my living space tidy, which none of them seemed to do.<br> <br> I have most recently been living as a lodger in a friend's flat and have done so for the last 19 months. We get on as friends really well, but recently his girlfriend moved in and it has since gone rather pear-shaped. Thus I now don't really enjoy living there/here now.<br> <br> I've got a couple of flat/studio apartment viewings next week for a place to live alone (I'm a single guy and don't wish to share with anyone (bar a girlfriend) now. However, I've never lived alone and have no idea what kinds of questions I should be asking whilst viewing potential places to live. Can you guys list some important questions that I should ask please. (Thanks in advance.),2013:site.246718 Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:24:19 -0800 apartment flat house living renting sockpim My brother's wife just came out How do I support my brother, his wife, and myself through my sister-in-law coming out as a lesbian? My younger brother married his current wife last June (just just past their one-year anniversary). Since their marriage, he and his wife have lived with me (I'm single). We all got along for the most part and it was mostly financially beneficial for all of us. Since about Christmas though the house has been extremely tense and about 2 months ago my sister-in-law and my brother sat me down and shared that she is a lesbian and wants to come out now (not really a surprise). I felt hurt and angry that I was expected to keep this secret until she was ready to share this with our family, and over the course of the last month, my family and her family have all been told. Everyone, including me, is very supportive for the most part.<br> I'm struggling at this point with how best to support my brother, his wife, and myself. They will be separating but want to continue living here. They want to tell a sports league we're all involved with this week what they're going through but I feel like this is unnecessary. Why share this with acquaintences? Close friends I understand but not an entire league. I'm not sure why I'm having more trouble now that I know for sure a separation is happening (at one point they discussed an open marriage). I do feel like for a long time I was expected to carry this for them/keep secrets/act like everything is normal, and now my feelings aren't being considered. Any advice? Anyone gone through anything similar?,2013:site.244142 Fri, 05 Jul 2013 05:36:24 -0800 arrangements family lesbian living katie521 What are your family-style, urban living life hacks? Mrs. Quizicalcoatl and I are finally moving to the Boston area with our 9- and 7-year old. What do we need to know? Here are some things that might impact what we need to know: <br> <br> 1) We've signed the lease on a small apartment in north Brookline, and we'll be moving in July/August.<br> 2) We'll be within walking distance of the T and will be downsizing to 1 car, which Mrs. Quizicalcoatl will be using to commute to work.<br> 3) The kiddos will be going to public school.<br> 4) I'll be a full time dad for at least the first 6 months to 1 year and, although I may do some part time work after we're settled in, we're thinking that my main occupation will be that of a primary caregiver.<br> 5) There's a laundry room down the hall in our building and a playground across the street.<br> 6) Although we've been taking day trips to Boston for years, we're lifelong suburbanites/ruralites/small-towners.<br> <br> So, how do we access the best parts of this lifestyle and location and how do we avoid the worst parts? What are the indispensable accoutrements, tips and tricks, and life hacks for the great, big city? If you live in an urban area, what item could you not live without? What pieces of information are you most glad to know? What practical shortcut keeps you safe, healthy, happy, etc.?,2013:site.241290 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:11:52 -0800 Boston Brookline city cityfamily cityhack citylife cityliving families family lifehack lifestyle living urban urbanfamily urbanhack urbanlifestyle urbanliving Quizicalcoatl How to focus/have more presence/be more lively/live in the moment? Basically I am a SERIOUS daydreamer and while I love this about myself and it makes me-time fun etc I have been told that I seem floaty and spaced out even in social interactions and I have noticed that people don't connect with me as much/take me as seriously!! This has not affected my daily functioning, but it is becoming a problem in my personal life and also in my work life because how am I supposed to achieve my goals if people don't connect with me or dismiss me because I seem 'distracted'... I would like to be more lively and focused and I would be grateful for any advice on that (I am anticipating lots of 'meditation' but would like other suggestions if possible as meditation is torturous and I have tried it and hated it.),2013:site.240438 Mon, 06 May 2013 06:18:03 -0800 daydream energy focus in lively living moment presence the dinosaurprincess I'm trying to decide whether to stay in my current apt or go to another I'm trying to decide whether to stay in my current apt or go to another one. Details including snowflakery below. I've been here six months on a month-to-month. I was at my last place ten years but my landlord was unable/unwilling to deal a drummer who drummed at all hours. (I'd also tried dealing with him myself, to an extent, with no success).<br> <br> This place is $550 plus about $115 in electricity (no gas). Pretty reasonable but maybe a little expensive for this part of town. I'm on the low end of the salary scale. Three blocks from work. New neighbors seem OK, I asked him not to drum when I'm home (I though my brain was breaking when I realized what he was doing). He seemed contrite and apologetic, and I have heard no further drumming.<br> <br> The other place: I'd be across the hall from an old housemate of 20 years ago. Good neighbor, no trouble. $475 + gas + heat, in addition I'd have a microwave and laundry. Twelve month lease. Six or seven blocks from work.<br> <br> Both places were completely remodeled prior. <br> <br> Potential/old neighbor leaves ten pairs of shoes in a shelf in hall. Laundry room in basement is full of crap and things hanging up. While I looked at the potential place, I could hear the man below me cough, leading me to think my current place is insulated better, noise-wise.<br> <br> I think I have a bit of sensory processing disorder, it's not bad enough I'm surrounded by yammerers 8 hours/day. I like a little peace and quiet and night.<br> <br> Still, I'd like not to be broke/put money in savings. Have you ever negotated with a landlord either to lower your rent or to not make you sign a 12 month lease? (I don't want to sign a l12 month lease as I hope to have a house/condo soon).<br> <br> I'm guessing since nearby schools are getting close to being out it will be a renter's market, but who knows.<br> <br> You know moving is just a chore. How do I tease out what is the right thing to do?<br> <br> Excuse what is probably a myriad of mistakes, I'm running off to work.,2013:site.240188 Wed, 01 May 2013 14:57:52 -0800 apartment living Prairie I come! Or may be not! Tell me about living in Winnipeg, Canada. All the good, the bad and the ugly. Low salary and in scientific research and a foreign worker....what did you like and hate about it? For someone who loves being out in the sun, walking/hiking outside a couple of times a week, is this going to be hard to navigate, if its an option at all that is? Or am I going to freeze inside with boredom in my apartment for most of the year and get seasonal depression and what not? I have never lived anywhere where it snows but I love winter. However, I am not sure if I am considering the Tundra here... It is especially important for me right now, at the point where I am in life, to be able to go out and about and walk, as silly as that may sound. Thanks in advance!,2013:site.239155 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:45:20 -0800 canada living outdoors winnipeg working xm Best place to live for three months in London without breaking the bank? As per my previous question, my wife is attending a course in London in June so we are moving from Australia for three months. We were thinking somewhere central initially, but the prices are nuts, so we will probably pick somewhere on the tube line (red or black line). Any suggestions for the seasoned London mefites in this thread that would suit our family of four (me, wife and two preschool boys). For reference, our rent here is equivalent to about 250 - 300 pound a week, but no idea how that compares. my wife would also be okay with up to a 1 hr commute, especially if we live at the start of the line and she can get a seat. Thanks all.,2013:site.239106 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:50:44 -0800 living London travel ranglin Making a Will Hey, I'm 35 and want to make a will for peace of mind. Nothing much, just want to state how I'd like to be cared for and declare and executor. I've read that in NYC you don't even have to have a will notarized. I've also seen a few sites where you pay to make a will online like this one: Any tips on getting started? I don't have or know a lawyer. Should I just fork over the $40 and make a will online?,2013:site.237419 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:48:57 -0800 executor living will gpoint How can you learn to live well with chronic illness? I have thyroid disease (hypothyroidism) and have been struggling for weeks as my body adjusts to a new medication. How can I keep my spirits up? Truth be told, there are many people with far more debilitating chronic illnesses than I do. I've been lucky in my ways. My medication was working as planned and I felt very "normal" despite my diagnosis, until an infection (and subsequent antibiotic) threw my levels all out of whack. I've been struggling with adjusting to a new medication. For 3 weeks it's been the same, or more of the same: the dizziness, the brain fog, the heart palpitations, the extreme muscle weakness. I'm only 23 years old, but I feel like life has completely zapped that impermeable paragon of strength you feel as a young person. I want to feel like 'me' again. It's a struggle to keep my spirits up, or to get enough energy to do my university work. Is there anyone else on here with a chronic illness? How do you enjoy life, and not get bogged down by what you're suffering from?,2013:site.236880 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:06:30 -0800 chronic hashimoto's hypothyroidism illness living thyroiditis well raintree Keep it down up there. Is there anything to be done about (probably unintentionally) loud neighbors? My boyfriend and I live in an older (1920s), 20-some unit brownstone. We moved in last September and our current upstairs neighbors moved in sometime in November. <br> <br> Since they moved in, the neighbors (a couple) have been somewhat noisy: stomp-walking at late hours and early hours (2am, 6am) is the main issue. They seem to move furniture around at those odd hours and they have come home at 2am yelling/crying a few times. Their walking in the morning with shoes on wakes up both myself and my boyfriend (we both wear earplugs). This is the main concern as it happens almost every day. <br> <br> Some weeks after they moved in, I wrote them a very polite note asking if they wouldn't mind not wearing shoes in the early morning hours. I blamed the building for being so un-soundproof and said to please let us know if we were ever too noisy. I didn't hear anything back but think they may have made an effort to be quieter for a week or two. Maybe writing notes is just a totally bad idea.<br> <br> One interesting thing is that the previous upstairs neighbors had an infant and we hardly heard them, so I know that it's possible to be quieter. Now, I will understand if I'm being a huge wimp about this and this is a fact of apartment living. Just tell me. Writing a second note seems like overkill, as well as passive-aggressive. I just don't want to get so annoyed that I pull a broom-banging tactic or stomp upstairs in my pajamas angrily to yell at them. Any ideas?<br> <br> (Part of the problem, too, is that I assume everyone is doing annoying things on purpose, when in reality the neighbors probably don't realize how loud they're being. I have a hard time being courteous [trying to be quiet for the people below us] and realizing that other people sometimes don't have the same level of courtesy. I am talking about this in therapy :),2013:site.235994 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:35:06 -0800 apartment living neighbors noisy sucre Living in Boston vs. living in Philadelphia? I've got the chance to spend two years doing research work at a university in either Boston or Philadelphia. I've never been to either city, and I can't visit them before deciding. I'm looking for general impressions of what life would be like in each place. (I've posted some other details inside, but because I'm so ignorant of both places, this is pretty free-form...) Just impressions of one or the other would be fine, but I'm especially interested in how the two cities differ. (FWIW, I've lived in Toronto, Vancouver, and NYC, so comparisons in terms of those places would all be understood.)<br> <br> I care about these things:<br> <br> - good transit/seasonal cycling options within the city (I don't drive)<br> - affordable train access to other cities (see above)<br> - green space (parks, streets with trees)<br> - ability to live without roommates in, let's just say it, a somewhat hip neighborhood<br> - nice coffee shops and small, eclectic bars<br> - vegetarian food, esp. Latin American, Indian, Ethiopian...<br> - decent 'indie' music scene, good independent dance nights<br> - friendly people!<br> <br> One crucial detail: I would be significantly poorer in Boston (40k/yr) than in Philly (over 50k/yr). Can a person even live on that amount a year in transit distance to Cambridge?,2013:site.235782 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:55:39 -0800 boston living moving philadelphia philly qualityoflife Beardman Do people actually live in basements? I'm sure you've all heard the phrase "living in your parent's basement." I was just wondering if it is common or if young adults/people actually live in basements or if it's just a saying. Where I'm from (southern california), I've never actually heard of anyone living in a basement, usually they will have a room in the house.,2013:site.233702 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:08:13 -0800 housing living phrases sayings nathanm Memento Vita In the past few weeks, MetaFilter has introduced me to <a href="">Beate Sirota Gordon</a> and <a href="">Aaron Swartz</a>, each of whom made the world a better place to live. I'm so happy to know of them and their work, but sad that I'm only learning of them via obituary; I celebrate them, and I want to celebrate the living, too. So help me out: who are the people I may not have heard of who, still here and still fighting, have worked or are working to make the world a better place?,2013:site.233098 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:25:40 -0800 better living making obituaries world davidjmcgee Ex-pat assignment in Malaysia I have just accepted an ex-pat assignment to Malaysia, specifically Malacca. I have a variety of questions, some specific to my family situation: my wife is three months pregnant and we have a toddler. See inside for details. Thanks! The assignment is expected to be for a year or less at which time we'll (likely) come back to the US. My company has a good ex-pat policy, so I'm not too concerned about money. I expect to start work in April. As mentioned, my wife is pregnant and due in June. We have an 18-month-old son who loves being around other little kids. We are white mid-westerns who have never traveled to Asia. My questions:<br> <br> 1. Any books, movies, websites, etc. we should check out to better understand and acclimate to the area?<br> <br> 2. Any advice for my pregnant wife? Hospitals/doctors in Malacca? From what we've heard, it sounds like Malacca has good health care, and at very worst we could travel to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for the birth. <br> <br> 3. Any advice for handling the transition for my son? We'd like to get a nanny or use day care too, so my wife can continue her internet-based business. Suggestions? <br> <br> 4. Since this is a short-term move, we will keep our house in the US. Any suggestions about the best way to manage this? <br> <br> Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!,2013:site.232690 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:27:31 -0800 ex-pat living malacca malaysia pregnant John Frum Generating ideas for work in Japan outside of teaching, or Eikaiwa jobs. I'm currently looking for work in Japan. I'm scouring the internet, Dave's ESL cafe, ALT (assistant language teacher) listings and am not really looking for help in that respect. If you have any suggestions however, I am happy to hear more. The only exception would be if anyone knows of any Eikaiwa (Private school) jobs or any forums that post job listings.. It is my question that since the work is not always steady and there is the possibility I would go there just to tutor, there is waaay too much flux in my ability to pay for rent. I need help figuring outside work. Outside of selling Japanese items around the world, I'm trying to figure out ways to make money with a general skill set. I'm vocal enough and confident in my speaking ability so I figure I can lead tour groups on my free time and post the listings on craigslist. I'm also looking into working as a waiter or dishwasher, but I was hoping for some help generating ideas. Thanks! PS - I alreadly have information on career cross and gaijin pot. If anyone knows any temp agencies are teacher employment agencies, that would be appreciated as well.,2012:site.229655 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:31:16 -0800 ALT ESL Japan JET job living money TA work Nighthawk3729 I've recently realized that we develop and make progress in our life when we experience new things and get out of our comfort zone. What are the different ways we can experience new things? I've recently realized that we develop and make progress in our life when we experience new things and get out of our comfort zone. What are the different ways we can experience new things? Getting out of our comfort zone is, in my opinion, the best way to develop and change yourself.<br> <br> Travel is the biggest one I can recommend. The way it opens your mind to new experiences, different kinds of people and how they live, and other cultures makes it one of the best ways to develop.<br> <br> What other ways can we experience new things and get out of our comfort zone?,2012:site.228970 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:14:38 -0800 life living self travel markbao