ChiKat

My alley is being paved! After years of bemoaning the horrible condition of the alley, which required an SUV to traverse, the city is finally overhauling the alley. It's the first time someone has done something that actually improves the resale value of my condo, rather than damage it.

In other exciting neighborhood news, I think we are getting streetlights on my street. At least, there are holes dug every 20 feet with electrical lines. That seems to suggest streetlights, right? That or a LOT of blue emergency phones.

Besides those two fabulous signs, I am so sick of living here. I'm sick of being president of the association, and when I sent a letter out telling people I needed other owners to help there was total silence. No one cares about this building. 50% of the units are now being rented out, which means many mortgage companies won't finance a loan for prospective buyers.

Despite good things happening in the neighborhood, I feel like this building is getting worse and worse. No one wants to take time to improve the building. I can't even get people to actually put trash in the dumpster rather than just throwing the trash bags in the alley.

I'm tired of living in a condo, tired of being tied to other people not of my choosing. I know everyone has to deal with neighbors, but I dream of not having to deal with an association ever again.

We really don't have money for a house. We have to decide if we want to dip into our retirement savings to escape condo-living, or if our future is more important than this current reality. If our future is more important, then I have to figure out a way to survive in this building without becoming filled with hate for everyone else who lives here.