Home is where the SPACE is...

Living in a small apartment can (at times) be very frustrating.  Especially when you share that space with someone else.  It's a constant battle of trying to find ways to create more space.  Under the bed storage: check.  Closet shelving: check.  Ikea hanging shoe organizer: check.  Using your broken dishwasher for Tupperware storage: check and good idea.  Write it down.  (Thank you, Papa!)

Of course, this is the trade off we've made to live in LA and chase our dreams.  So we carry on carrying on.  Rebecca of Girl's Gone Child captures this brilliantly here. 

My brother Brad and his wife Kelly, on the other hand, live in a huge 4,000 square foot house (not apartment, house) in Olathe, KS with two floors, high vaulted ceilings, walk in closets and, most importantly, his and her bathrooms (The secret to a happy and healthy marriage).  They have a spare room, and a second, and a third, and another even more luxurious than the rest called THE ATTIC.  You could play hide and seek and the game wouldn't be over in fifteen seconds.  In addition, they have a two door garage.  A laundry room.  A huge back yard.  You get the idea.

We by comparison live in a 975 square foot 2 bedroom 2 bath which we share with a revolving door of Japanese home stays.  Throw her into the mix and it gets a little tight.  Lately, I've noticed that even the space in my own bed is tight.  It's easy then to long for a bigger, better, brighter place.  But even on the worst day these thoughts only last for a moment, and then I look outside our huge, glass balcony doors, and I remember all the reasons why I (we) love living here.

Our apartment is smack dab in the center of the Hollywood Hills.  Cal-i-forni-a.  We live in a cool, hip neighborhood with a row of shops including restaurants, a coffee shop, a bookstore, and an improv showcase at the end of our street.  Cooking and forgot the garlic?  No problem, the Mayfair Market's right around the corner, walking distance.  (You may even spot a celebrity.)

Because the desirability of our location, ours is a very active neighborhood.  The side walks are people movers of Twenty & Thirty-somethings walking to hang out at the shops or eat at the restaurants.  Sometimes baby strollers even show up.  And dog walkers.  Lots and lots of beautiful dogs.

Ours is also a safe neighborhood.  How do I know it's safe?  Because the Church of Scientology Celebrity Center (sadly, there is such a thing) that sits on the corner has a constant rotation of cops on bikes patrolling the area.  You see plenty of couples taking midnight strolls.

Did I say we could walk to the Hollywood Bowl?  We never have, but we could. 

But even more important than all of this is our neighbors.  Our neighbors kick ass.  We love them.  They've been like family to us, especially Ana.  They've brought us food, watched Nikki when we went away, even helped plan Ana's baby shower.  They're givers.  They're constantly bringing us something.  I know because Nikki darts into their apartment for Pup-per-oni's every chance she gets.  If I come home and Ana and Nikki are gone, I know where to start looking.

Most valuable, they provide an outlet of true friendship for Ana.  LA is not the easiest of places to make friends but they've been sincere from the beginning.  They've opened their hearts and their homes and provided a sense of family which is a huge comfort since Ana's family is back in Brazil.

So if you were to add up the combined area of Apartments 102 and 203 and 204 and ours -- well, what can I say but:

That's a lot of space.

We're very lucky to have such a big home.

--  PAPA

Comments

[ana paula]

hi baby
thanks so much for poste again beautiful post , for apreciatting and sharing what we have. We both know and feel that is realy hard to be in LA (following our dreans) this special moments make us going .
Love
Me

[Bia Castro]

Hi guys, I could not leave this funny page without my comments!! First of all, thanks Brian for keeping us updated, Is important to know about my sister before I get there for my vacations, certainly we will LAUGH a lot together about all those stories!!! The last from yesterday makes me laugh and cry at the same time.. so funny.....
Reading I miss you guys more, even Nikki...!
Can´t wait to enjoy my time with you. WAIT FOR ME!!!
Many beijos for the family.
Bia

[Wendy]

Aw Papa that's such a sweet sweet way to find the silver lining. It's easier to find when you're with someone you love so much, isn't it?