I cannot remember when
I first started talking about my dream for retirement of picking a major
metropolitan city and taking up residence for two months to experience it as a
native would. I am sure that when I first started yapping about it, people thought
it was a kooky idea, and perhaps I did too, but at some point my words became
action. I think originally Felice agreed to join me figuring that I would
move on to some other dream or maybe never really retire so it was just out
there as something in the future. Well, the future is here. We cast off for
Manhattan this Sunday and we are busily packing and organizing for an extended
trip. In the meantime, Felice has been working diligently to close
her business and empty the building of everything except the carpeting. As
of tonight, all she has left to get rid of are 6 desks, 5 credenzas and
two chairs. Great effort on her part and now her clients are being served by
both her and the very experienced staff at Travel Destinations. It is a load
off of her mind to know that her clients will be cared for in the same way she
has for the last 30 years. She will barely have time to wrap up the clean
up before she has to go into Passover Seder food preparation mode. Felice is
entrusted with matzo balls, chocolate covered matzoh candy and farfel muffins.
A trip such as this
has more logistical issues then we could have imagined. I will not bore you
with the details but suffice it to say that there are certain things, like
paying bills, starting your cars regularly, and so on, that are easy to do when
you are physically present, but not so easy to do 3,000 miles away. We have to
thank in advance those people who will be taking care of the house in our
absence. We also have to thank Lauren for her assistance in finding and renting
our apartment in the upper west side, overlooking Central Park. It took a lot
of effort to find the place and negotiate our sublet. Besides her real estate
assistance, Lauren has already secured for us two seats for The Book of
Mormon for the Tuesday right after we arrive. So we have already exceeded our
expectations and will be able to see the hottest musical with the original
cast. Very exciting. We are also looking forward to getting to see Jersey Boys
on Broadway and Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway, both shows that Lauren's
company, the Dodgers are producing. There is a chance we will get backstage at
some point, but it will be neat to see the product of Lauren's work.
We have been to
accumulating lists of things to see, restaurants to eat at and shows to attend,
but I will admit that New York is a big place and it is a bit overwhelming.
Once we settle in, we will have the freedom to go where we want, when we want
and explore without the burden of time constraints that always seem to have limited
us to the well known places when we have previously visited New York. Of course
we will be will be reading the New York Times, Time Out Magazine and New York
Magazine to find things to do and places to go, but we have found over the
years that the best places to go are the ones that people we know have gone to.
So if you happen to have a favorite place (restaurant, museum, street, store,
theater, bar, etc.) please let us know so that we can put it on our list. Our
plan is to share with you the highlights of our travels periodically.
Additionally, if you
happen to be coming to New York in the next two months, let us know so we can
get together. Wishing you a happy holiday and our next entry will be from the
Big Apple talking about the Great White Way and so much more.
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