Apartment Living

Man, you really don't realize what a luxury a doorman (or woman!) is until you've lived with one... and then have to live without one!

(Yeah, yeah, I know everyone who hasn't lived in an apartment high-rise in the city is going, "Huh? Doorman? Why would you need one?")

Well, doormen are more than just door-openers for the apartment building: they are greeters/gatekeepers who usually know faces and sometimes names of most of the tenants who live there-- and conversely, those strangers who don't live there (and sometimes shouldn't be there!). Sometimes they're liaisons, if something in the apartment or building needs fixing and you need to get in contact with the super. They often help you with luggage, if you're heading out to or coming in from a day of travel. And--this is what I'm most lamenting since I've moved into a non-doorman apartment!--they sign for packages and leave them where you can get them later. I SO miss that!

Now that I live in a 3-story walk-up in Astoria, there's no doorman, or for that matter, anyone at home to sign for packages, and no safe (or dry) place to leave the packages except inside the front door, which is locked all day. I came home unexpectedly in the middle of the day yesterday, and who should catch me walking out of our building but the local UPS delivery guy! He told me he was really glad he caught sight of me-- my building is one of the most difficult addresses on his route, simply because there's rarely anyone at home to sign for the packages.

I miss my doormen. Doormen and bellhops across NYC are talking about striking on New Year's Day, to try to convince building owners to give them more of a share in the buildings' profits. I think they're worth it-- we take their services for granted when we have them, but let me tell you, we sure miss them when they're gone!