Musings of a brand new Houstonian...
Once we left the airport we were the only passengers on the Super Shuttle ride to our apartment and I got my first ground level look at Houston, even though the ride was mostly on a freeway.
A combination of open spaces, business parks, corner shopping centers, huge malls, and residential areas, barely scratches the surface of what Houston is all about.
The open spaces, including the bayous and parks, and the amount of trees, especially in residential areas, as well as the amount of traffic on the freeway and busy streets, were what stood out most to me, initially.
Upon arrival at our new home I met the complex staff and filled out paperwork, made payments and was shown a few things and given my keys.
Then it was time to meet our new digs.
The complex is big and we walked across a good part of it to my building which, with stairs and an elevator, will make reaching my second floor apartment, in a 3 floor building, easy.
While the complex has been around a while and the pavement, in places, shows its age, the buildings and grounds looked nice.
For someone used to views out a front window and a back window, my new place took me by surprise. We walked down a hallway with apts. on either side, to our door, and entered.
Our window views are a sliding glass window with a balcony, and a small bedroom window. The cats will like both views as they can see the courtyard below between our building and the next, and several other balconies.
The social and entertainment factor for the cats appears to be an interesting mix, as we saw several people walking Dogs and the agent told us there were several outdoor cats, most of whom were not owned by anyone.
The agent told me that, even though the Apt. is listed as a 1 bedroom, they call it an “Efficiency”, due apparently to the fact that there are no doors separating the bedroom from the living room and the bathroom area...
At first glance I liked what I saw: A nice kitchen with lots of storage space, a fridge, electric stove and dishwasher, a large living room, bedroom and walk-in closet, as well as a bathtub I couldn’t wait to soak in (Haven’t taken a bath, just showers, in 20 years)! :-D
After tossing torn shreds of newspaper in the bathtub, as a temporary litter box for the cats, I let the cats out of their carriers, and shut the door. I walked 2 miles or so to the nearest target and Petco for
litter and a cheap litter box.
When I got home, by bus, I found Nikita and Elvira huddled together on the floor, behind the toilet, poor things. I hugged and petted them both and let them out to explore the place while I set up the litter box in the large space under the bathroom sink. I set food out that they ignored, but they soon figured out where the new potty was and returned to a nervous and curious, exploration of our new home.
I left them alone, again, as I went back to target to get an airbed to sleep on and something to eat at a nearby Jack in the Box. When I returned, both cats were huddled near each other in the large closet and were happy to see me return.
So ended our first day in Houston, as we soon went to bed, me on my airbed, the cats in corners where they each felt comfortable and safe.
That had to have been a very confusing day for the li'l darlin's -- plane trip, in carriers (one in cargo next to some fish!), shuttle rides to and from airports, etc., etc. Little wonder they were huddling together in the new digs. I think they're coming right along now, though, right?
I love the continuing story with details ... and photos!
Marilynn
Posted by: Marilynn | October 20, 2012 at 08:23 PM