Does anyone know the quality of CB2 bed linens? I am thinking of purchasing the Lumimarja Bed Linens, but they are fairly cheap (by "luxury" linens standards), and I just wanted to see if anyone out there had any experience with CB2 duvet covers or sheets.

I bet if you ask this on the NYC side you'll get an answer. There seems to be a good number of people that have tried CB2 things.

I have no experience iwth CB2 linens, but my guess is that it's not much different from Crate & Barrel's linens, which are superb.

I am moving to Chicago in a couple of months and have a quick question. My car insurance guy told me that if I get rid of my car and have no insurance, if/when I get another car in the future I will be considered "high risk" since I did not have continuous coverage. Does anyone have experience with this? Any suggestions? Workarounds?

Dave, each state does insurance differently. In some states you are insuring the driver and others you are insuring the car. However, when I've heard of continuous coverage and high risk drivers it usually applies to people who haven't had insurance but kept driving. I'd call a couple of other insurance people and ask their opinion.

Dave,

My family decided to go car-free about 6 months after moving to Chicago and we were told the same thing by our insurance company.

It's now been six years of no car and no insurance payments (hooray!). We figure it will be worth it to pay additional premiums if need be if/when we have to be insured again. We were told any additonal premium charges would be for only the first year (this would be good to check up on if you are calling around) and meanwhile we have saved so much for all of these years.

Good luck with the move.

janel, I was just about to reply to atomics post by saying that maybe the savings over many years would be worth the "high risk" tag for one year. I find it a bit crazy that I would be "punished" for giving up my car and using public transportation. I must say the thing I fear most with the move is giving up my car. 14+ years of driving and you get very used to having one around. But I also can't wait to get rid of the thing!

One other question, does anyone know of a place that stores jetskis year round? Kind of like a jetski marina that doesn't cost an arm and leg!

Thanks!

Do not fear, Dave.

When I moved here, if I found a parking spot, I would pay for a CAB (sheer laziness, public transit will do you fine) to avoid moving my car (since sold off.) And parking has only gotten worse.

One thought for you: there seemed to be more of a market for my rusty old '79 Celica in Denver than here. No one here would touch it. I drove home for Christmas and my dad was able to sell it right away.

Dave,

I sold my car when I moved to Chicago and didn't own a car for almost ten years, purchased a car and have not been considered "high risk", as a matter of fact because of my "very good driving record" I am considered "low risk"!

another alternative is car sharing: http://www.flexcarnetwork.com/chicago-i-go/

Hi,
This is not a law! It is the practice of some insurance companies. When I first moved to Chicago I went without a car for about 2 years. When I got a car again two or three insurance companies said NO and some said High Risk premiums only. I got out the phone book and made some calls and found reasonable insurance from a company that did not require either. If you can't find a company that will give you normal insurance take the more expensive insurance for 6 months and then shop around for a competitive quote. That will work fine. Enjoy your time without a car. I did.

thanks for bringing up i-go, ak. my husband and i rent cars now and then, usually 3-4 times a year and i've wondered if it would be better to switch to i-go (or the new zipcar) instead of traditional rental cars.

any thoughts/comparisons from those who have used the car sharing services?

thanks!

(and thanks for your info on the re-insuring process, Don - good to know)

I thought this might be appropriate for pet week, even though it isn't really a design question. Anyone here travelled with their pets (cats)?

Even though I've had my cats for 3 years now, I've never travelled with them (except for their annual visit to the vet in my car where they whine and cry the entire trip).

I was thinking about flying with them, but have no idea how to go about this. Any tips?
There are two of them - can I take both with me in the cabin? Do you need to have special permission from the airlines? How do you get them through security without them freaking out? (I'm guessing this part at least may be easier for the dog owners).

What about checking them in? Is it safe for them to travel in cargo? Will they let both cats go in one crate together? (my cats don't really like being seperated.) Any other tips?

Should I not even bother trying and then just drive them all the way to the east coast?

darlyn-

you'll have to check with whichever airlines you plan on using. there should be something on their website, or most airlines will helpful if you call. American Airlines allows two animals per person (only cats or dogs). they generally need to be in separate carriers, which there are specific guidelines for regarding size. and you also have to pratically buy your pet a ticket. click on my name for detailed info.

the only travelling i've done with cats has been in cars with my parents cats (one cat learned to just stay low in the car and he was fine, the other gets car sick...actually she threw up on my husband first time he travelled with my family, she must have known he was allergic to her.) if your nervous about how your cats would do, consider talking to your vet and get their opinion. i know our cat is a talker/crier, so if we travelled on a plane with her we'd have to consider getting something to calm her down if she got really anxious.

if this is a vacation trip, you could consider getting them a cat-sitter. when we left for a week and a half at christmas time, we talked to our vet and got recommendations for a sitter (actually, many of the vet assistants/ receptionists will freelance as pet sitters). the sitter came over as often as we requested, charged per visit (i can't remember how much, but it wasn't that bad). but she cleaned up after the cat, refreshed water and food, and most importantly, played with my cat for around an hour. i also left the tv on that week for the cat.

hope that helps.

Thanks for the link! That is very useful info.

I'm actually moving to NYC in September, so a catsitter isn't an option (whenever I travel that is what I usually do).

I just think it would be easier to sell my car here in Chicago than try to drive it to NY and try to sell it there.

Can anyone reccomend a resource (other than Ikea) for stylish, modern kitchen cabinetry at an affordable price?

Darlyn - You're moving to NYC - so cool!
I was there last weekend and although I couldn't survive in the southern tip, I loved UWS and UES - so pretty around the park. Where are you moving - which area? I have friends all over the city, so everytime I go, I get to know a new area, it's a lot of fun. I noticed when I clicked your name that you're a painter. Beautiful work. However, I also noticed you have photo albums of Dartmouth College. I actually go up to Hanover NH now and then for mini getaways, it's pretty there. My uncle is a surgeon, he went to Dartmouth before studying in NYC. He is actually come back up this way next year for his Dartmouth reunion. Are you a painter by hobby and in medicine by day? Or vice versa? he he

Holly

Sara-

i had been searching for the exact same thing a few months ago. i had no luck. everything i could find that was modern design did not qualify as being at an affordabe price. the two options i came up with were: 1. buy something at Merch Mart immediately before NeoCon when they cut the prices, or 2. use IKEA but make my own finished doors and side panels. maybe look on the AT:NYC site, they've had a lot of previous conversations about this topic. sorry, that wasn't the help you wanted. i'm hoping someone else has a better response...

Hi Holly,
I just actually found a place on the Upper East Side (74th and 2nd), so you can come visit! I like the neighborhood since it is a little on the quieter side, much more affordable than most of Manhattan (you get more space for your money, although I admit I'm going to miss my big Chicago apartment), and only about 20 blocks to work! (I feel like I hit the jackpot on apartments, even though I haven't even seen it myself yet).
And yes, painting is just a hobby, I"m glad you like some of the things I've done though.
I loved Dartmouth - it is just a gorgeous little town. They have tons of little cabins owned by the Outing Club that you can just rent and stay in for almost nothing, plus great hiking. I really look forward to getting up there more often once I'm in NYC (last summer I drove all the way out there for my 5th year reunion). I did my undergrad there (so alas, I'm no surgeon). I actually just finished up law school here in Chicago, so if I pass the bar exam in NYC on Tuesday (*gasp*) I'll be one of those *lawyers.*

P.S. I love your blog!

Janel,

I use i-go. For errands around the city and the very near suburbs, it is ideal. I am the #1 i-go fan, I swear it.

There is an option for longer trips--you can rent a car for an entire 24-hr period for about $60. You are limited to ~200 miles, though, so a trip to say Milwaukee for the day is out of the question.

For longer trips like that I still use a regular rental car. It is about the same price and you get more miles.

I have no info on Zipcar and only chose i-go b/c they were in the city already. :) Good luck!

leah,
thanks for the info, i'm thinking we should give i-go a go...