Finding a Place

A Week in the City

By Tim Knapp

Wow. I'm again overwhelmed at life in the city. How different; how interesting, how challenging.

I came this week after a couple months of dreading/preparing for an apartment hunt I knew would be difficult and new...it was. Yet, what I prayed for was that God would lead me to the place, neighborhood, apartment that he has in mind for us to live and interact in.

I arrived late Tuesday 2/2/10 after flight delays, to a snowy city as busy and loud and filled with people as ever. My next 2 days were filled with around the clock email, texting, and phoning apt brokers to inquire about apts here in Manhattan. By noon Wed. I had an afternoon full of appointments that lasted into the late evening. I was reminded of the difficulty and challenge of city...real city living. Walking everywhere...taking subway trains, catching a bus, grabbing a taxi, to shorten the cross-town treks. And all in arctic-like, 20-something, windy, chill.

And the people never speak of the weather...I'm constantly aware of the cold, though dressed well for it. The weather's never a topic of conversation here. Too much else to worry about; too cold to talk, period. And yet the streets are full of those hurrying as always to the next appointment, job, or destination...bundled up, looking tired, yet spirited.

These people aren't hard, yet w/o time for small talk. Get to the point; say what you mean, mean what you say. And say it loud and clear. It's somewhat refreshing that what's said is never meaningless. It's always purposeful and with emphasis. Every time. And yet people don't mind talking or doing a quick visit...they appreciate it. Hurried, busy, distracted living doesn't leave much time for visiting--don't we know. And it leaves very few who are willing to try it. Not much is left over for that.

So, dressed well--at least warmly--and fairly new to the routine of all the walking, hurrying, and such, I talk a lot. And mostly, it's well received and returned two-fold. Leads to a lot of interesting conversations. Everyone has a story; every person willing to share has experience to give. And some of the stories are hard to hear...such as from the guy whose been homeless since he lost his job and wife 2 years ago...or from the guy who just got out of the NY State pen 2 days ago, after 18 years...prison ID in hand. We miss so much from those we fail to listen to or hear out.

And so on Thursday morning, I walk into an apt on upper west side Manhattan...between Central Park and Riverside Drive on the Hudson...and God says "This is the one". Yet I didn't hear a voice besides mine. But it was clear. And 24 hrs later and after another 20 apt. viewings....I signed the dreaded dotted line. More interestingly, the owner of the building...a seven story building constructed circa 1900, wanted to meet me before approving the lease. Turns out he owns 9-10 other similar buildings w/50 or so apt's in each one...each building worth millions each...along with vacation properties on other continents. Yet he wants to meet me before approving our lease agreement. Hmmm. Which led to another interesting conversation.

Answered so many questions, and personal, indeed. Which led to me sharing our (other) dream of recent. The one of starting up a "Rivers Edge--NYC"...that all we needed were apt's along Riverside Drive...which he has. And that all we needed was a guy like him whom we will meet some time, who will give us a chance to do that by providing a few apt's and taking a chance on someone like us. He then gave me the keys to the apt...one month in advance of our start up and lease date. God knows what He's up to here...and this is only one small area.

So after only a couple days of serious searching...voila'. We're in. And with plenty of room for visitors who want a first hand NYC experience w/o the hassle and expense. We have a roomy 3BR/2bath only a short walk from Central Park and beside the subway for easy access to all the sights of the city...hint, hint. It's so safe and unusually quiet for big-city. We truly hope many of our friends will take us up on this offer...whether you've ever stayed with us before or not. It's an opportunity that will change your lives, I promise. And in only a few days. Guaranteed.

There's so much I cannot express about what it feels like to be here. I'm a very woodsy, outdoorsy, stay alone, love the quiet, sort of guy...who fakes it well in the crowd...not that I dislike people. And yet I'm drawn here no less than the Rockies have drawn me in the past...to hike in, carry only a bare minimum of food for the week, and weather the elements in search of something that's incredibly hard to bag...yet it's there, and I know it.

So as I ponder my last few days' here alone in the city, I realize I'm hungrier than ever for real life. I've found it here, or it's found me. I won't be the same for it, thank God. And I long to see just what it all means...or what all we're in for. Good or bad, it's more than interesting; it's invigorating. And that's what life should be. Or at least what it was intended to be, praise God.