questions
When Ali and I got married we moved into a 2 bed / 2 bath condo. I took the master bathroom and he moved into the guest bathroom.
There was no need for discussion.
Shaved Ice (literally), a trip to the Farmer’s Market, weekend pics from the Summer Streets event
When Maya came into the picture, we moved into a 2 bed, 3 1/2 bath condo. Although I was initially mystified by this seemingly idyllic floor plan (must have involved a female architect) I quickly got over myself.
I took master bathroom A, Ali moved into master bathroom B, and there was still one left over for each Maya and our guests.
There was no need for discussion.
Love the evenings at Lincoln Center
When Ali, Maya, and I looked at apartments here in NYC we did nothing but discuss:
- Why is a third bathroom such a luxury here?
- Are people in NYC not as selfish and demanding as we are?
- And those lucky few who have a third bath, how in the world can they afford to fork over $14k a month for it?
- We are obviously in the wrong line of work.
Nobody could shed any light on our discussions, nor did they want to. I believe our broker said something along the lines of, “You are lucky to find a place with two bathrooms.”
That shut us up really quick.
A pretty sunset…one of the last few before Ramadan ends.
So sharing a bathroom with Ali doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. I mean, I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut when I see his pajamas in the corner, crumpled into a little ball. And on a good day I can shut my eyes really tight and ignore the fact his towel is not on it’s designated hook.
My point is this: If the fact that I’d rather be navigating through Ali’s collection of toothpaste in New York rather than enjoying my spacious, one-tube-of-Crest bathroom in Los Angeles doesn’t speak volumes about my love for this city? Then I don’t know what does.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
oh thank you for remembering me in your Eid and Ramadan wishes. Truly appreciate it. A very happy Eid to you and your family too 🙂 hope you have a day filled with blessings and joy.
Thank you Eddie! Eid Mubarak to you and your family. 🙂
and OUCH! on the post 😀 must require some self restraint on seeing thos Pajamas and mis-placed towels.
Yes…self-restraint is something I need to learn…
The things we do for the ones and places we love! I have OCD when it comes to my bathroom so here’s hoping my future hubby can keep up ;)!
Don’t count on it…men rarely seem to have OCD unfortunately. Not sure why that is?
You guys will love it here!!! in NY…you know whats funny…you moved in and I’m leaving! Oh and Ramadan Kareem to you, maya, and Ali! have a good one Ameena!
I’m sorry you are leaving! Hopefully you are going somewhere you love as much?
eh idk about love….its chicago
Yes we too are currently enjoying separate bathrooms. I shudder to think of the day when we may be forced to share!
I hope that day never comes for you Deepa… LOL
Eid Mubarak ( a little in advance).
Hope you guys settle in quickly and smoothly. Best wishes
Thanks Anita! Eid Mubarak to you as well.
I’ve always shared a bathroom with my husband so I guess I don’t know what I’m missing. 🙂 Sorry it’s the other way around for you. Glad you get to do it in the city you love, though.
Sometimes it’s better not to have your own bathroom, then you never know what you’re missing. 🙂
Thanks for the comment Maryea!
Ameena, you must be so happy to be in NY. Complaining is a pasttime of almost everyone and it must be fun to have so many like-minded people around you. So, don’t turn on us now with getting all LA and positive, and even being ok with sharing a BR…
So funny…my negativity will never fully go away (unfortunately). I’m sure I’ll be back with some major complaining soon! 🙂
Haha this post comes at the perfect time because we are having work done on our second bathroom and have to share a bathroom for a week. Let’s just say I can’t wait til our second bathroom is back in business… You never realize what a luxury that is until you have to share! But I like your point… as long as you are sharing in NYC it’s worth it! Congrats on the move!
Thanks for the comment…and I hope that the work goes seamlessly and quickly for you!
We went from a 2 bedroom/2 bath apt to a 1 bedroom/1 bath place that’s almost half the size. It’s been quite an adjustment in a lot of ways, so I can understand your pain. In our old place, Vishnu had a study room where he could store all his junk but now his desk, books, and computer stuff is in our bedroom taking up an entire corner. I’ve been told to suck it up! LOL!
We don’t have an office anymore either which means I’m tripping all over Ali’s computer stuff and papers every day!
I haven’t even bothered to address it .Yet!
Are you just loving it beyond belief up there? While I can’t imagine being in a big city, your tone does ooze with the satisfaction of being ‘home.’ I’m so happy for you. And to think, you’re just a hop, skip and jump from us now. When we head north to visit family that I have in NY, I’ll let you know.
I must have the perfect husband because I’ve always shared a bathroom with him and it’s been fine. Only one toothpaste tube, caps to shaving cream and after shave always on, and never once has the toilet seat been left up. He’s a gem.
Yes please do let me know!
And maybe, when you visit, your husband can share tips on sharing a bathroom. Sounds like you are one super lucky lady!
Some things are just not worth the fight (anymore). We only have 2.5 baths at home and I have to share it with my husband, because the other one is for the kids. My husband always manages to entertain me by leaving his wet towel in our bed for me to find, for some unknown annoying reasons…
Can’t wait to hear more stories about you guys in NYC! Again, welcome home Ameena!
I agree…I’d almost rather share with Ali than Maya. It’s a toss up who is messier?
And a wet towel on the bed…so gross. I feel your pain Lydia.
Sorry it’s late, Happy Eid Mubarak Ameena, Ali & Maya!
You must really love NYC, Ameena! 🙂 To put up with the “husband trail” is a huge act of patience, which I admire 🙂
We moved from a one bath apartment to a 2.5 bath townhouse and it was the best thing for our relationship. I don’t have to looks at my husbands mess everyday, I just go in there every week, scrub, clean, straighten up, start a ten minute speech (which falls on deaf ears) about living like a human and then walk out. And we live happily.
Loved this. The cycle of a husband’s mess…I had to laugh!
2.5 bathrooms…One day I will have that again. 🙂
I dream of the day I will have my own bathroom. I’ve been sharing it with my guy for 22 years. I think the only thing that saves me from having a melt down is that I eventually learned to block it out. Hopefully you can get Ali up to your standards in no time. You are going to have a wonderful adventure there in NY.
-Gina-
22 years! Now you deserve a medal Gina. I hope that I can hang in there half as long.
Thanks for the comment. 🙂
This was really sweet 🙂 You both are so cute and elegant together ! Love the hidden love for him behind your words and Love the irritating things he do 😉 Give my love to your daughter 🙂
My love is very hidden, Ali would say. LOL
Thanks for the comment White Pearl…so nice of you.
This is sweet 🙂 Love you !
I’ve never lived in a house with more than two bathrooms, so I’ve always just gotten used to sharing!
So will we…not happily (probably) but we’ll do it! 🙂
a colleague of mine lives in NYC and she says her office is bigger than her apartment!! People live in shoeboxes here so 2 bathrooms is indeed a luxury!! I hope NYC will love you back just as much…
I’m ready to go back to work so I can have a big office too!
Watch..now that I said that I won’t even get an office but a cubicle. 🙂
I’ve always shared a bathroom with the husband but having 2 sinks in our house make it manageable!! It’s the sacrifice you make in NYC. But since sharing a bathroom for the first time with your husband has not sent you over the edge (yet) then clearly it was a good choice!!!
I wish we had 2 sinks…that would make things so much more manageable. Maybe we’ll luck out in our next place?
lol..I always pray one thing- when i live with a man, we will be able to afford a two bed two bath so i dont have to deal with all that…
I’m crossing my fingers you do Dixya!
Ohhh welcome to the East Coast…. Now thanks to you I demand my own bathroom 😉
Sorry…am I a bad influence? LOL
I hear you girl, I do !! 12 years of marriage and my first thought as I enter the bathroom every morning is, ” I hope I’m first”. Says it all, doesn’t it?! LOL!
12 years of marriage…I’m right in front of you at 13. And I now I will be saying those same words!
I miss having my own bathroom! But I hover over him like an insect insisting he cleans up after himself. It has worked out fine so far!
I hover like an insect to no avail…I could use some tips Zarine!
Yes, you must really love NYC because I need my own bathroom!
I really do love NYC. 🙂
I’d def. put up w/ the dirty socks and pajamas to live in NY City! Xx
Glad another person can relate! 🙂
I share the master bath with my husband and can’t stand it (we have 2 and a 1/2 bathrooms) but the other full one is upstairs. I hide my own toothpaste in a drawer because he is messy with his toothpaste and it grosses me out. Add the nose hair trimmer thing and I could lose it. I’m over the clothes on the floor and the always wet floor mat. I ask myself again and again why I picked out a dark green countertop and sinks for our bathroom. It shows all his leftover toothpaste in the sink (:. However, I wouldn’t trade where I live for anything 🙂 I am content on our almost 2 acres,, 2500 sq. ft. home we built, and an in ground pool on a road with 9 other houses w/ great neighbors. I love NYC but I prefer to visit. I am not built to be an apt/condo person. I am however jealous of all the great food you will be getting in the city 🙂
Nose trimmer! I have yet to see one of those (and hope I won’t have to).
2,500 sq feet on 2 acres sounds perfect. Our old place was 2,300 sq feet and I thought it was a great size! Now are are at 1,300…let’s see how that goes. 🙂
Iam sure Iam willing to do the same if I can ever evade to the bay area. I wish you a cosy stay, and hope you can buy a good home with as many bathrooms you’d like 🙂
Thank you Z!
Love the Bay Area…SF is a great place to live. But almost as expensive as NYC I think.
We are house shopping right now and there is an incredible amount of homes (especially older homes) with 3 bedrooms and ONE BATH. Annnnnnd no. I mean who lives like that?!
I don’t get that ratio…I keep seeing that here as well. Well mostly 2 bed / 1 bath. 3 bedrooms seem as rare as 3 bathrooms!
I share a bathroom with my hubby too and I don’t like it one bit at all! When we moved into house we own my husband got into an annoying habit of hanging clothes on the hook behind the door and this would build up over the days. After telling him many times his wardrobe does not need to be on that hook, I just took the hook out! Evasive action Ameena did the trick! 🙂
Smart thinking!
I wonder why Ali won’t put his towel on the hook. How do I fix that D? Please tell me. 🙂
Well if he doesn’t – then you hide them of course and deny all knowledge of them!
New York City is something else.. it’s a mess, but it’s a vibrant city, each day is different. You’re lucky to make your dream a reality. Yes, 2 bathrooms in nyc is a luxury, I have yet to meet someone with 3 bathrooms living in NYC. Lincoln Center is a nice area… I don’t visit often since I travel in the opposite direction, I should take a stroll before winter begins. 🙂
We love Lincoln Center…it’s such a lively place. I wonder how it’ll be in the winter? I’m a bit nervous about the cold!!
Welcome to NYC! Glad to hear you’re enjoying it so far despite the new bathroom situation : )
Thank you Jess!
My husband and I don’t share a bathroom either, I think he would lose his mind if he had to. I am the messy one in this relationship so just look past those PJ’s lady! 😉
I try, I swear I do! But it’s like trying to look past a giant pink elephant. It’s near impossible Rhonda!
Eid mubarak! yeah so true.. I apparently share the bathroom with my husband and know what exactly you mean!
I’m sorry to hear you know what I mean Deepti!
LOL
Brave woman. My weekly chores growing up included cleaning the bathrooms in our home and I always swore I’d never share one with a man…yes, your love of New York is inspiring.
I have no problem cleaning (I really do secretly love it) but bathrooms are not something I particularly enjoy cleaning…so I get it!
argh you’re lucky! I share a bathroom with my husband and son..and Ishan (son) is soo much cleaner than Sukrit (husband)
I understand that sometimes you have to ignore the crumpled clothes on the bathroom floor and the towel that didnt even make it back to the bathroom!
So I think you deserve a medal for sharing a bathroom with your son and husband! I can’t even imagine how many crumpled clothes and towels you come across Amelia. 😦
Yes, there are some compromises worth making. So glad you’re enjoying your new home in NYC 🙂
I admire your resilience, Ameena! You’re a strong woman to share a bathroom with Ali after not having done so for a while. Peter and I finally have a bathroom with two sinks and it’s wonderful! I don’t think I could go back to one sink 😉
So happy to hear you’re enjoying your new home! Love the pics 🙂
I’m so in love with you and your blog, Ameena! What neighborhood did you end up settling in? I was had time to explore NY for less then 24 hours, but it was so much fun. I’m already looking for tickets to go back early next year.
So happy for you!
Love this post! I’ve had to share a bathroom my entire life, so I never really thought about it. But from what you describe, I think you sharing a bathroom with Ali does speak volumes about your love for NYC ;)!
It does! 🙂 Happy for you that you made it to the east coast. I know you have written many times that you wanted that.
Thanks Joan. 🙂