Parking Your Car

One of my biggest pet peeves with living in anpoint where if we don't do our food shopping
apartment complex is the parking situation. Tooduring the middle of the day (when it isn't quite as
often (depending on what time of day it is), I willcrowded), then we will almost always be
leave my apartment to go run an errand or toguaranteed not to get a parking space near our
hang out with friends, and if I get back after 7apartment building.
p.m. On most days, I cannot find a parking spaceOne of the perks of being a home owner is
anywhere near my building. It has gotten to thehaving a guaranteed place to park your car. In
point where people who live in the apartments inmost cases, owning a home also means that you
the buildings around me have actually resorted towill have a covered garage in which to park your
simply parking illegally because they simply cannotcar when you are not using it. These are two
find a parking space otherwise. Well, finally enoughthings that I, personally, look forward to having
complaints have come in that the managementone day. When you own a home, it can
office of our apartment complex recently sentsometimes be aggravating to walk out of your
out notices to each of us letting us know thatfront door and see that someone else has parked
they will soon start issuing parking passes fortheir vehicle on or in front of your property
residents to put in their windows. However, I(depending on how far your property line
worry that people who don't live here or whosestretched out in front of you home). One of the
vehicles aren't listed with those who arethings that drives my own parents crazy is when
registered residents of this apartment, willthey are home and they see or hear someone
somehow find a way around this new rule.pull into our driveway so that they can turn
As it is, over the last few months of winter,around. Because I know that this annoys many
whenever my boyfriend and I would go foodhomeowners, I try not to do this when I am
shopping, we would often do our food shoppingdriving. Instead, I go to the next block on the
late at night in order to avoid the massive crowdsstreet or neighborhood that I am in and conduct
of people at the supermarket. It was better thismy u-turn there.
way because our supermarket (as well as theWhether you live in a house or in an apartment
Walmart) were open 24 hours a day. However,building, be aware of how others around you feel.
when we would finish our food shopping and getIf, for instance, you are visiting friends who live in
back to our apartment, there wouldn't bean apartment or a house, ask them ahead of
anywhere for us to park. We started gettingtime where the best or most acceptable place is
used to parking at least a half a mile away fromto park so that you don't aggravate other people.
our apartment building. It has now gotten to the