A move into a new apartment is such a well suited time to institute the kind of lifestyle changes that people tend to consider from December 31st until, oh let's say February 1st. (we'll grant that it was a particularly ambitious year and New Year's Resolutions didn't quite become total parodies of themselves for about a month) And honestly, moving into a new apartment is much more conducive to self improvement than the day after the holiday season closes.

Consider the differences between the scenarios; a New Year's Resolution is basically promising your present self that your future self will take care of whatever is afflicting your present self based on the facts that 1) the holiday season has perhaps highlighted some personal areas of self-consciousness and 2) the number of revolutions the Earth has made around the sun has very personal implications.

By contrast, moving into a new apartment is taking the first positive step towards eradicating at least some of the Pavlovian conditioning factors that engendered the bad habits and opens up all sorts of wonderful ways to live a more resourceful, healthy lifestyle.

For example, the old apartment, it was located right next to the bar, Pizza Hut was on speed dial and the balcony was furnished with an all weather recliner for smoking. The new apartment, however, is within walking distance to the gym and the grocery store in addition to featuring the wonderful amenities of a patio grill and a pool for relaxing weekday nights.

With this concept in mind, we are going to concentrate, in the next few weeks, on ways to be a little more resourceful, to be a little healthier and to get more out of apartment life. Like these people, who despite personifying the elevator music version of Rockin' in the Free World, seem to be getting the most out of apartment life:

Issue Number 1: Cable? Get that Out of Here

When the roommate whose name was on the Comcast bill moved out last week, the remaining roommates agreed that television, not religion, was the true opiate of the masses, and we were going into detox. Now, this opens up a pretty large hole in the after work but before sleep schedule. We'll discuss creative things (aside from the obvious novel-a-week pipe dream) that are way more entertaining than your regularly scheduled programming. The indication that a need for change exists could very well be the uninspiring notion that watching a device that presents contrived stories with pompous life lessons is the most enjoyable way to spend your free time. We'll discuss ways to find better things to do during the week as well as ways to avoid completely revoking modern technology.

Issue Number 2: Use Every Part of the Buffalo

Start cooking for yourself in order to save money, learn the 2nd most practical skill in life and get healthier. Just picking up a cookbook can be very overwhelming, timely and costly. For example, it is useless and discouraging to return from the market realizing that you spent more money than would cost a fancy dinner at a high class establishment on exotic ingredients that you will never use again. We'll use some great online resources and helpful videos that will accomplish those three aforementioned goals. Videos tend to distinguish the difference between chopped and minced as well as how “brown" a lightly browned chicken breast is supposed to be.

Issue Number 3: TBD

I am sure that we'll think of something.