I found the Woodlands back in 2009. The air, the trains, the tress, the birds, the crickets, the dear, the wetlands all reminded me of a place I loved as a child…minus the tents! Adirondack Mountains in up-state NY.
My first place was a 3 bedroom. Top floor, two semi-private balconies - one that overlooked the wetlands, full size washer/dryer, lofted ceilings, underground parking, wood burning fire place, elevators, pet friendly building, and well kept. 1028 square feet…all on one level.
...Management staff was wonderful. After a year...the 3 bedroom was too big. Why was I taking care of so much space when it was just me and my dog – finally? Kids on their own, I needed a smaller place. So...I moved down the hall (literally) to a 1 bedroom. It took about 20 trips back and forth with a grocery cart to get my thing transferred. Movers moved the furniture. Same amenities, except washer/dryer was smaller and on top of each other. I stayed in that two bedroom for 2 years. Minimal rent raise after the first year. I was well taken care of. I'd go online and place a maintenance order (maybe 3 time for the entire 2 year period) for things to be fixed and within 24 hours...the order was completed. One emergency at 2:00am...taken care of by 2:30am.
Missed my daughter/granddaughter so I moved to Miami, Florida. Hated it. Where was the Minnesota Nice? Where was my home, my dr, my nail lady, my hair lady...where was my apartment, the wetlands, the walks to nearby stores, restaurants, my favorite gas station (Holiday)? To top it off, the movers did not bring my things to me for 3 months – tons of things missing and broken. All that I knew and had was gone. 7 months later...back to MN. I went and back to the Woodlands into a 1 bedroom, same building. Ahhhhhh....home! Staff welcomed me back with open arms. And although there were a lot of new faces, they were just as friendly and competent as the others. They knew me. Felt good to be home.
OK so after a year I decided I didn’t want a 1 bedroom but didn’t need a 3 bedroom, so I moved into a 2 bedroom. Facing the wetlands. Now you might think I am just a nut case who can’t make up her mind, and while this has some fact behind the sarcasm, the real fact is I am happy living in this 4 unit (large) complex. The young people drive me crazy with their coming home from partying at 2:00am, but then I remember being young too. All the units are now allowed to have pets, which puts me over the edge when owners don’t take care
