Monday, February 28, 2011

I can look out, I just can’t look down

I’m old enough now and hopefully wise enough to know that I should never say never.

I used to say, “Oh, I would never live in a high-rise apartment building….NEVER!”

And the reason being is that I had always thought living in a high-rise building would have a cold and sterile feel to it. Throughout my many apartment dwelling years, I have either lived in a charming brownstone building or a cozy little apartment that was over someone’s garage. Also, I’m not fond of heights, therefore the thought of living in a high-rise on an upper floor scared the living crap out of me.

Well, guess what? I’m living in a high-rise apartment building on an upper floor.

Could you just DIE?

It use to be an old hotel, built in the late 1930’s, so it’s not at all cold or sterile. The building has a great vintage-feel because it still contains all the original hardwood floors, window and floor molding, and glass door knobs. I much prefer things old than new, especially when it comes to my living space. I enjoy residing in places that have a lived-in history to them.

When I first moved in I was on the 12th floor, however a year later I moved up to the 21st floor. I’ve got an awesome view of the city, which looks even more awesome at night when I gaze out my windows and see the twinkle of urban lights against a dark sky. Anyone who comes to visit me in the evening always says, “OMG….what a great view.”

And it is a great view if I’m looking OUT, but not DOWN.

I have an odd fear of heights because as long as I’m enclosed in something, I have no problem. But if I’m out on an open terrace, I FREAK!

Now, this is the REALLY odd part. For some reason, my fear of heights is felt directly in my GROIN. It’s as if someone just kicked me in my delicate gonads.

Gee…I wonder what Freudian thing that means?

Perhaps it’s just a guy thing, hu?

I can even fly in a plane and look out the window and be okay with it because I’m enclosed. Yet, you don’t EVER want to be with me in a glass elevator because I’ll grab my crotch and SCREAM.

Back when I lived in Florida, I was visiting someone who was staying in a hotel that had a glass elevator. When I got in, I had to turn my back to the glass walls and face the inside metal elevator door so that I wouldn’t see DOWN. The other people in the elevator looked at me like I was insane because I was panting like a St. Bernard. Coming back down, I thought of taking the fire emergency stairwell because I did NOT want to get back into the elevator, but I did.

Anyway, here is a view from my apartment looking directly out…..