Hi Fellow Sensitive People, I've just moved into an apartment to escape another noisy apartment in which I lived for only three months. I was luckily able to re-assign that lease. My current Landlord was fair enough to allow me my first month before signing a one year lease. Before this month ends, I have to decide if I'm going to stay. The main problem in my last apartment was that it was in the basement of an older house. Therefore, every noise from the apartment above was as if it was in my apartment. It sounded like the only thing between me and the floor above was a piece of thin plywood. So, when the small but heavy footed woman above me walked, it created intolerable thumps and vibrations like a diving board. Not every day but on certain occasions, she had some unsavory characters over. These visits often resulted in foul language, shouting, threatening words and "Get Out" between them etc. I had to fork out over $150 a month more in rent to move into my current apartment. I'm in a triplex and the current landlord assured me that there is concrete and plaster between the floors and walls. Now, I don't have the thin floorboard above me. So, I can't hear the person walking. However, I think I hear cupboards closing and the water pipes clunk after the water is shut off. This is especially irritating in the morning when people are getting up and at night before they go to bed. Apparently, the vibrations and thumps from cupboards and furniture being dragged across the floor aren't muffled by the heavier materials. My floor is carpeted but not all of the other apartments are. I live near the stirs and those who like to run up them or walk heavily are quite audible as well. I could have taken a third floor apartment elsewhere but the area or condition of the building weren't as good. Besides, as others in this forum have mentioned, irritating sounds come from below as well. I hesitate to move again because this place is better than the last one. In addition, if a totally sound proof apartment does exist, it would be out of my price range. I think what we're all finding out here is that there is no "Bed of Roses." If you find it, enjoy it while it lasts because circumstances always change beyond our control. And, I think "Control" is the key word here. If we were all to form a club, it would be called the "Living Space Control Club." We are all nice people--I'm sure we've all heard that before. We're nice because we control our own behaviour to try not to offend or upset others. We're not wimps--if pushed too far, we'll unleash a world of hurt on the offender--but we'd rather avoid that, if possible. That being said, we often don't understand others who don't control their behaviour according to our standards. We tend to become resentful and interpret their "noise making" as an attack on our space. If we showed that lack of consideration to others, that would be our intention, right? So, we instinctively attribute such malice to others behaviour. Usually, they don't have a problem with us and no offence is intended. They just have different priorities to us. Here's the rub. Humans have very different priorities but we're all territorial to one degree or another. In my last apartment, I very politely confronted the noisy woman above me. I asked her if she could hear sounds from my apartment. She replied, "I can hear everything but I'm not a complainer." To that I replied, "Well, I have to do computer work down there." She was "getting drunk" because she just lost her job. So, she asked if we could talk about it the next day. I said that I just wanted to know if she could hear things from my apartment. Since she'd answered that, and was now aware of my situation, I saw no point in discussing it any further. Unfortunately, the situation did not improve. So, my point is that whether your neighbor reacts positively, negatively or indifferent, if they don't share your priorities, they'll think, "Who does he/she think they are?" "I pay rent here as well and I'm going to live according to my priorities." Based on the replies in this forum, there are more of us than I thought. In general society, I think we're in the minority. I have O.C.D, although I've kept it managable for years now. I suspect that I have A.D.D. as well. Someone else in this forum mentioned that he/she had A.D.D. These conditions along with many others are anxiety based. They would not have names or acronyms if everyone had them. Through my experience, I don't believe that there is any 100% cure for anxiety based conditions. However, through therapy, they can become manageable. I've had therapy for my O.C.D. and it helped. I will do a web search looking for suggestions to help me deal with my current sensitivity to noise. Perhaps, I'll follow up on the "nerve damage to ears" suggestion that another person made in this forum. I had many earaches as a kid. I've always found that the breathing exercises that I learned through behavioural modification helped. Maybe I'll try that as well. Any other suggestions would be appreciated as well. Take Care All!

asmom- i don't know why my DH omelette didn't work - but when we did an omelette with the 2 Wolf peeps - the omelette came out fine. They also shared the power % numbers which should be standard in the operating manual. The Wolf has 4 magnets, so the "splotches" are the 4 zones. Once the pan is warmed up, it settles down and seems to work just fine. Lorenza - You can get a very hot pan on the Wolf! I don't know how it would compare to gas - but it is more efficient so the heat goes to the pan. See my post on cooking about my scallops - they were absolutely wonderful. We don't eat much meat, so I am not the best to answer on the sear end of things - but I made an scrumptious pork roast - seared it and then tossed into the oven - I had beautiful "brown" sauerkraut - which irked my DB as he can never get his kraut to turn brown like DMs. Sauces are quite easy. I also made a beef stew - and used the cooktop like a crock pot - I put a probe into the pan to monitor and it stayed very stable and was delicious! My signature dish - "upside down salmon" comes out perfectly - I slice sweet potatoes and put a bit of oil in the pan, season the potatoes and then put the salmon skin side up in the pan - (after marinating) heat on medium for 5 minutes and then pop into the oven for 10-20 minutes depending on the size - then scoop out the potatoes and fish and flip it over so the caramelized potatoes are over top of the fish. I roast my peppers in the oven - but don't char them usually, so not a problem from my end. I am going to buy a grill pan but have not done so yet. I have a single griddle - I think it is All Clad - it is a square one and works fine Debating on the grill pan to purchase... I have heard that Wokking is hard - but haven't really tried it - but I am betting I could make it work with my giant Saute pan. And I haven't made my Paella yet... How did the Thermador compare to the Wolf?

Pqsmom, I'm so happy you love your Buckingham! I can't wait for mine. I'm still not 100% at ease, but doing better. There have been a few snags (what a surprise since that never happens right?). For example in spite of asking the owner of the cabinet shop about 7 times if she was sure she had made the trash cabinet big enough since I thought the Rev A Shelf website saying the opening had to be 15" meant it needed a 16.5" cabinet, she repeatedly stated her specs said a 16" would be fine. Well, installer agreed with me since the trash didn't fit. Now they are going to have to re-cut that cabinet, adjust some stuff and re-order the door. They also sort of forgot to make the fridge cabinet or order the doors for it. Whoops. Anyway in spite of those and a couple other issues, they were still able to come out to template so at least the mistakes won't mean I have to wait even longer for my Buckingham - just as long as it takes to re-cut and install the messed up cabinets. I found the templating interesting since it sort of looked like two grown men doing a big arts and craft project, using plywood boards instead of toothpicks! But maybe that's just the renovation insanity setting in.

About 30+ years ago when I was driving my kids to school, I had my first panic attack. At the time I did not know what it was, but it scared the heck out of me. My heart was racing, my chest felt tight and I felt like I was going to faint. I had never experienced anything like it. I was at a stop sign a block from the school and just froze there. I managed to pull over, catch my breath and then felt ok. I did see a doctor later that day and was told it sounded like a panic attack and that it was no big deal. Well it was!! Because it happened while I was driving I became worried that it would happen again, so each time I drove I became very anxious and continued to get them. I finally found a therapist who helped me control them with self talk, breathing exercises and meditation, but it took several months. Thankfully I have not had one since that time, but I sympathize with those that suffer with them. I can see how it could consume someone's life. I was at a point where I did not want to drive anymore. When I was a kid, my mom would quite often have what she called "dizzy spells", but they were actually panic attacks.