For 3 years now, I have lived in apartments and its been quite the adventure. These are just some of the things I have experienced.

1. The sounds

You hear EVERYTHING. From the woman downstairs throwing her husband out at 2 am to the man yelling at his wife about her LuLaRoe shopping habits at 11 pm and her son missing his curfew. The man upstairs peeing and the man next doors “music.” You will literally hear everything.

2. The pets

Little dogs that bark when the wind blows. Big dogs with separation anxiety. And the dogs that bark when someone knocks on the door next door.

3. Babies and children.

Babies cry. A lot. You’ll hear it. And the children have no concept of the fact that there are people living below them. They run, jump, scream, and all sorts of noisy things.

4. Your neighbors

Yes, I realize that unless you live in the middle of nowhere you will have neighbors. But neighbors in apartment complexes are WAY different than neighbors anywhere else. Why? Because in apartments you will get the weirdest assortment of people.

5. The smells

Pot. Someone else’s cooking. Cigarette smoke from the upper balcony. The smells travel and it is very unpleasant.

6. Parking

Some days you are lucky if you get a spot near your building.

7. Mail

It isn’t just yours. Some days I have mail for 5 previous tenants and none for me.