MY ANOSMATIC LIFE

As an individual living with anosmia, there are some things to consider when looking for a place to stay, whether living alone or with others. Unfortunately, everyone does not have the privilege to afford or choose safety over hazardous areas when it comes to their living situation. I want to acknowledge that I can afford to live in a safe living space. Now as you may know, that apartment hunting can already be a struggle because 1) apartments are overpriced, 2) rentals go quickly, and 3) some apartments are kind of hazardous with no windows to open or actually escape out of. Pre-COVID, I was living in a loft. It was beautiful, but there were no “real” windows…just a really nice skylight that I for sure couldn’t reach, and these tiny windows you needed a ladder to climb and possibly escape into the hallway of the building if you could even break the windows. It wasn’t until later in my lease that I realized it was a hazard to be living there but I made it out safe when the lease was over thankfully. I almost stayed at the same apartment community again but in their new building but it was on the fourth floor. I can’t jump out a fourth-floor window unless a trampoline, like the ones you see on shows when folks get saved, is waiting for me on the bottom if there is a fire/emergency. Of course, I’d most likely be one of the last people to notice unless the alarm goes off or I visibly see smoke. So, I passed. Thankfully, I now live on the first floor (there’s a ground floor too) at another property where I can either run down the steps, jump off the balcony, or climb down a ladder/rope (that I have procrastinated to purchase).

Honestly, I’d rather not wait to hear the alarm, the words FIRE, or actually see smoke since my sense of smell is on hiatus. When apartment hunting, some basic questions require answers -in my opinion. Some of these questions may seem like common sense questions but they are legit need-to-know answers. Here are five things to consider as a person living with anosmia in an apartment alone or with others:

Feel free to share other things that should be taken into consideration.