Really amazingly good news
#115440 - 10/24/04 05:23 PM
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Hey everyone,
I've been hesitant to post this because I didn't want to jinx myself, but it's now 99% certain so I feel comfortable sharing. It looks like I am moving to an amazing apartment in a beautiful building -- rent free! I will be the building's caretaker, and will be responsible for basically dusting and vacuuming the place. It's a 5-story townhouse that serves as the home for a club of stamp collectors -- nerdy, I know -- with one apartment on the 5th floor! I'll be the only one living in the building, and will have to keep the other floors clean. The building was designed by a famous architect -- Stanford White -- and is breathtaking.
The first four floors are basically all meeting rooms, reading rooms, and libraries. The fifth floor has the apartment and a small reading room. The building is open during business hours, and in the evenings I'll have the entire building to myself. The work is not negligible but totally manageable. I would call a plumber or an electrician for anything serious, but beyond that, I'll just dust, vacuum, and clean the glass. Obviously living rent-free is an amazing opportunity for me, and is totally alleviating all of my job-search stress. Now I can get the kind of job I want, at a small law firm, and live like I'm making a lot more money. This is a huge answer to all my prayers and I am so happy, just had to share it! They have to evict the guy that is currently (not) doing the job, and renovate the apartment for me, so I should move in December or January. It's just so exciting.
 Thanks for reading!
--Panda
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Congrats, Panda! It sounds like a perfect opportunity for you all around - wonderful news!
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Panda,
Life can't get any better than that! Yoo-hooo!!! I bet you are on top of the world!
When my husband was in graduate school, he was the director of a college dorm, and the two of us lived rent-free in a campus apartment adjacent to the dorm. He got paid for being dorm director, had his MBA classes paid for by the university, and I was working. We socked away every penny I made and bought a new house when he graduated. It was GREAT!!!!
How nice to have a rent-free place to stay---and such a beautiful one too!!!
Congratulations!
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wow, I am so happy for you!!! is it in the city? I just moved to NYC from London (my hubby is american) and we are going to be living in a tiny studio in order to be able to live in the city! Good for you!!! yay...dreams coming true!
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Feel the fear and do it anyway!
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Heather7476
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Yup, I'm staying in Manhattan, where I am now. My bf (American) has been living in London for a year now, and I spent the summer there. I loved it, but NYC is special to me.
Welcome to the big apple, hope you like it!
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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 <-- my face right now! I'm so excited! Thanks for cheering for me!
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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I keep waiting for the "catch" or something, but I guess if you've had a similar experience, then it's not too good to be true! I'll be sure to post pics of the building when I move in, which should be Dec or maybe Jan 1.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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Rent in NYC must be so outrageous, you are so lucky to come across this! I am sure that you are going to have a great time, and the cleaning can't be that bad, either.
Good luck Panda 
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-Sheri
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as a native New Yorker- Stanford White mansions are gorgeous- my sister got married in one... enjoy it and ooh- when we go visit my family can we meet at the house so we can get a tour???
Sounds wonderful and like an amazing opportunity.. but just remember that it will be time consuming ot keep a place that size clean and dusted and there is a lot of glass, etc...
Good luck!
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Of course you can come have a tour! You are right that it will be time consuming, but everyone who has done it has always had a fulltime job, so I'm sure I can manage. Most of the rooms are very empty, just with tables and chairs, so there aren't a lot of little thingies to dust around and under. Plus I can do it on my own schedule, so I'm sure I'll be ok. When I think about how much a 1-Br in Murray Hill would cost, and how much I would have to earn pre-tax in order to pay for it, I just can't believe I'm getting it. I am soooo excited!
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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good luck! enjoy it and take lots of pics so we can live vicariously...
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Nice Amanda, congratulations. When is the first party being thrown? 
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S.
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~ Rachel (IBS-C)
If life hands you lemons, make lemonade!!
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One of my friends has already requested a dinner party, jacket and tie required! I'll have to get settled in to the apartment for a while before I see what I can get away with, as far as personal use of the rest of the building.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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S.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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elegant five-story brownstone
famous architect Stanford White
designated a New York City Historical Landmark in 1979.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
Edited by AmandaPanda (10/25/04 10:40 PM)
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..how did you find out about such an amazing living opportunity?? I'm hoping to move to New York in about a year and what you're doing sounds absolutely amazing - especially to a student who finds the out of control rent costs a little overwhelming! I am so excited for you though, I wouldn't have even thought that an arrangement like that would exist. And designed by Stanford White too-I'm an interior design student and I definitely understande the importance of that! Congrats again!
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Hi Brittany,
I guess it's one of those "who you know" kind of things. My uncle (well really older cousin) is a member of the club that owns the building, is actually the VP, and is the head of the house committee, so it was his duty to find someone for the job. My aunt mentioned it to me at my SIL's baby shower, thinking I might know someone who would be interested, but obviously I was interested! I still had to go through a formal interview process and was selected over two other candidates, so my uncle couldn't just waive me in ... but yeah it's not something that I would have heard about without his help.
You are right, NYC is intimidatingly expensive. When you really are close to moving I'll be happy to recommend the realtor who found my current apartment for me, and to talk with you about neighborhoods, etc. Good luck; it's a tough process!
Best,
Panda
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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