City mouse and the country mouse.....sort of

Country mouse loves to stand out in the night air and listen to the coyotes and owls hooting.
City mouse stands on a mini deck and hears the traffic whooshing past.
Country mouse loves to stand out in the dark of night and look at the stars.  Sometimes in just his boxers, because it was dark.  And isolated.
City mouse stands on his mini deck hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.  City mouse realizes he is looking almost into the family room of the people next door.  City mouse feels slightly perverted.
Strange, for a guy who grew up in Chicago to enjoy the solitude of the country as much as I do.  Maybe it was growing up in Chicago that did that.....listening to police cars, domestic disputes, one stabbing (actually the stabbing part was quiet, it was the yelling before and the howling after that wasn't), car doors, unwanted music........ and made me love the quiet of the night.
But all mice need a home, and ours is a good one, though temporary.  After all, when it snowed last week I didn't need a snow blower or Beth to help me out....the association fees take care of that.  This summer, when it is 90 and humid, I can sit on my mini deck with a cool lemonade and watch someone mow the grass and trim around the bushes.  I can get to like that.  Of course, there is always Emily's to keep me in mowing shape.
The unit itself is very nice....well built, good appliances, great looking floors and trim.  OK, maybe it needs a paint freshening, but it is a nice unit.
We go to the architect Wednesday to go over some minor changes.  Well, I say minor.  But when Jackie suggested moving a toilet over about 20 feet and putting it on a different wall, there by sliding the vanity over and knocking out a closet, I did get a little worried.  Turned out there was an easier solution.
Once we get the final plans, the builder will gather all the costs.  He will give us a price that will make me mess my pants and then we will start deciding what to eliminate.
Jackie will say I am unreasonable.  I will counter that I need airfare to Switzerland.  Unlike the Congress, we will reach a compromise.  Which means she gets what she wants and I still go to Switzerland.
In the meantime I will try to adjust to the noise and the restrictions standing out on the mini deck have....such as wearing more than just boxers and a smile while looking for the northern lights!