Adjustments

The rental Ford Explorer which seemed so tiny in Cleveland suddenly seemed like a U-haul upon arrival in Manhattan.  A handy and illegal parking job across the street on the sidewalk left us with only a jack-hammer, construction fence, and four flights of steep stairs to our... cozy... apartment.  400 square feet was no longer an imagination, it was a reality.  We couldn't complain, however, to find it nicely furnished and efficiently arranged.  All our STUFF mostly fits comfortably.

So now we get to the fun part!  Yippeeee we finally made our dreams come true!  How about we celebrate at a delicious Mexican restaurant where they serve guacamole from avocados sliced before your very eyes and the best margaritas you've ever tasted.

Time for your postly pic... "Which part of Manhattan do you live in?" You might say (as many do).
I live HERE:

Queensboro bridge near our apartment

Well, very close anyway... and that's as close as you'll get or else you might start stealing my identity.
So far (which isn't very far yet) life in Manhattan is FAR different than the suburbs of Cleveland.  Yeah - shocker I know - but let me give you a few examples:

1. Dodging people and cars on the street is a part of life.  I would bet that if you examined a New Yorker's brain, the part that controls dodging skills would be far more developed than the average American.
2. Manhattan is like a whole state compressed into one small island, and all the cities in the state are smashed into each block.  Every block has everything you need.  If you need to go someplace that is 3 blocks away you are pissed that there isn't one on your block.
3. You don't get a car, but it is ok, and everything is optimized for car-free people.  Laundry is easily dropped off (on your block of course) and delivered.  Groceries are delivered per your online order.  Stores even have twine-masters who magically create handles out of twine on your large purchases so you can carry them home.
4. YOU SEE CRAZY STUFF HERE!  On tha regula... for instance, in the first two days of being here I've seen:

• A van hit the median and flip on its side right next to my cab.
• A fire in a fourth floor apartment with a firetruck's ladder up it.
• An old woman who looked like she could barely walk.. get this.. ROLLERBLADING down 1st avenue carrying two bags of laundry.  And by rollerblading, I mean wearing rollerblades and standing awkwardly as she rolls down hill taking up a lane of traffic. 

 I hope that's enough to convince you.  WE are definitely convinced that we are getting the experience we were looking for and are looking for more to come.  Stay tuned...