High rise living with older kids

[Anonymous]

If you live in a city in a high rise near a park and with a shared pool, gym, etc, how is it? We prioritize fresh air and unstructured outside time for our young kids but dream of being minimalist. I know in Asia and many parts of the world people live in small spaces. We currently have a big home and land I’m fantasizing about not having to care for it. Maybe it’s just a fantasy.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if I really understand your question. What's it like living in a high rise with an older kid?

She seems to be fine. She's in middle school. She goes in her room when she wants to be alone, and she comes out and talks fairly often.

Outdoor time? We ride bikes, skate, go to the park, walk to the grocery store. We used to live in a house. I think we do more outside now than we did when we had more space in the house.

[Anonymous]

We’ve always lived in a city and always in an apartment. In NYC it was a three story walk up and here it’s a six story building. In all honesty, I have no clue what to compare it to as we’ve never lived in the suburbs or a single-family house except for two years that we were in Europe.

Parks are wonderful as are community gardens and sports courts. We joined a private club for swimming and tennis.

Now here’s the rub: covid. It was a very hard year for all of us during quarantine and the shutdown. That’s was the only time I wished we had a private yard and private space.

[Anonymous]

It's great. They love having a rooftop pool and inviting their friends over. They love having shops and restaurants and friends close by. I love not having to maintain a big home plus yard. Don't love the condo fee of course. If we want to do an outdoor activity we drive to it, and we have a small balcony for a breath of fresh air.

[Anonymous]

I spent some years of my childhood living in a Paris apartment with my parents. My parents probably appreciated not having to care for a garden, as we had lived in a house in another country before that, and my father was always in the garden on weekends mowing and clipping and whatnot. We had parks and cafes and museums right there. Downside: pollution and noise, and having to drive out pretty far to hike, something we had been able to do right outside the door in our old country place.

Fast forward to now, I've been raising my kids mainly in a little suburban home with a garden, with occasional bouts of apartment-living when we're on assignment abroad.

It's all good, except for city pollution and noise, which I still can't stand.

[Anonymous]

Don’t do it. We had a small fire in mine this morning. It was horrid. I rushed out with my twins toddlers in my bath robe. I learned this place has had multiple fires in the last few years. You don’t have to do it op so don’t !

[Anonymous]

I grew up in one and we had a balcony. I have vague memories of riding my bicycle on the balcony, doing art projects on a drop cloth, playing with cups of water, etc.

[Anonymous]

Block of half your house to 1000-2000 square feet, including storage, move everything in that space and see what it is like. Don't use your yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve always lived in a city and always in an apartment. In NYC it was a three story walk up and here it’s a six story building. In all honesty, I have no clue what to compare it to as we’ve never lived in the suburbs or a single-family house except for two years that we were in Europe.

Parks are wonderful as are community gardens and sports courts. We joined a private club for swimming and tennis.

Now here’s the rub: covid. It was a very hard year for all of us during quarantine and the shutdown. That’s was the only time I wished we had a private yard and private space.

+1. If there is never another pandemic, it is truly heaven to live in a vibrant, walkable city.

[Anonymous]

Your question is odd to me I’m a minimalist that moved from a one bedroom apt to a 2 bed 2 bath house on 3 acres.

My house items are the same - we did buy one extra bed. Child has only bed and a chair in room plus some toys. Living room is a chair a couch and dining table (and an easel!) just like in the apartment.

Are you moving to be a minimalist or to be in a city? I love my white walls filled with sunlight and few necessary items but all the extra space it feels “breathy.” We had to buy a few shovels and trash bins but the yard is just mowed by a company and we planted a little pollinator garden.

It sounds like it’s not the high rise or the location but the fact you’re overwhelmed with your surroundings. Fix that first it takes a lot of time and thought but it’s worth it. I’ve been like this for years and years and can fit my whole house in a few boxes. Imagine you are moving to that high rise and fix what is wrong now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your question is odd to me I’m a minimalist that moved from a one bedroom apt to a 2 bed 2 bath house on 3 acres.

My house items are the same - we did buy one extra bed. Child has only bed and a chair in room plus some toys. Living room is a chair a couch and dining table (and an easel!) just like in the apartment.

Are you moving to be a minimalist or to be in a city? I love my white walls filled with sunlight and few necessary items but all the extra space it feels “breathy.” We had to buy a few shovels and trash bins but the yard is just mowed by a company and we planted a little pollinator garden.

It sounds like it’s not the high rise or the location but the fact you’re overwhelmed with your surroundings. Fix that first it takes a lot of time and thought but it’s worth it. I’ve been like this for years and years and can fit my whole house in a few boxes. Imagine you are moving to that high rise and fix what is wrong now.

Why does everyone have trouble with the concept of downsizing? Pp, you have 3 acres to care for, op wants less maintanance.
Op, I consider this often too but I would need a balcony to rival my porch where I spend a lot of time. I do agree with pp that you can start to minimize now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your question is odd to me I’m a minimalist that moved from a one bedroom apt to a 2 bed 2 bath house on 3 acres.

My house items are the same - we did buy one extra bed. Child has only bed and a chair in room plus some toys. Living room is a chair a couch and dining table (and an easel!) just like in the apartment.

Are you moving to be a minimalist or to be in a city? I love my white walls filled with sunlight and few necessary items but all the extra space it feels “breathy.” We had to buy a few shovels and trash bins but the yard is just mowed by a company and we planted a little pollinator garden.

It sounds like it’s not the high rise or the location but the fact you’re overwhelmed with your surroundings. Fix that first it takes a lot of time and thought but it’s worth it. I’ve been like this for years and years and can fit my whole house in a few boxes. Imagine you are moving to that high rise and fix what is wrong now.

Why does everyone have trouble with the concept of downsizing? Pp, you have 3 acres to care for, op wants less maintanance.
Op, I consider this often too but I would need a balcony to rival my porch where I spend a lot of time. I do agree with pp that you can start to minimize now.

I’m PP there’s nothing to care for I pay weekly for someone to clean and cut grass, I don’t spend a thought extra about it. Maybe I’m confused by the OP to me it sounded they wanted to minimize their living situation but would miss the ability to be outside and enjoy the outdoors. I was explaining you can downsize your life where you are you don’t need to move to do that.

[Anonymous]

Up until last year we were living in highrises. I loved being able to walk with the kids to the park, to get groceries or out to eat. Some of the things that made me want to move out were:

1. It was hard to have friends over because parking was always an issue. Some buildings have guest spots but you may have to reserve a space or call ahead. It was just a pain.

2. Many of the luxury high rises that have all the amenities you mentioned attract young childless couples or retirees, not that many families. So when you went to the shared pool it was like a frat party scene, especially on weekends and holidays.

3. I like to host alot and I found it difficult with limited space. With a backyard or a large deck I have alot more options (even with a small house).

[Anonymous]

My daughter and I have lived in our 900 sq. ft. single family home for nearly 20 years. It has a medium -sized manageable yard. It's the perfect situation.

[Anonymous]

Is it high rise living, or urban living, or minimalist living, that you're specifically interested in? I'm raising my family, by choice, in a small urban apartment because we love our location, love the neighborhood amenities, community, etc. Covid/quarantine only reaffirmed that. But our building has no amenities you speak of, except we do have 300sq ft of private and beautiful outdoor space.

I look around my space and we're definitely not minimalist but we do seem to get by with a LOT less than people in the suburbs/more space.