Hard Hats

Flying in the face of this so-called recession, there's a new condo building being built right in downtown New London.

And I walk by it every day. It's a giant building, and, I admit, at first I thought it was too big, and too overbearing, for this wacky little town.

But then, yesterday, we got the opportunity to tour it.

The developer invited all the members of the downtown New London association -- um, or something -- to a hard hat tour of the new building, and Peter and Martha happily accepted on behalf of the Tavern. And Mistah and I happily accepted P&M's gracious invite to join them.

From nothing, all of a sudden, there is something.

Tony brought us right up into the depths and bowels and innards of the new place, and it is something in there.

Tony talked in the present tense, like "This is the 5th floor hallway, where there are 5 condos." He just sees it. Me, I see a lot of metal two-by-fours.

But he was an awesome tour guide.

And a good gesticulator.
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This is where the pool will be. All seasons. Outdoor in summer, covered by a Wimbledon-like solar-heated roof in winter.

Work is in full-on progress.

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Further upstairs we went.

Aw, there's Westy..

The view of New London started to get really great, and we all started to appreciate just how cool this space is going to be.

Shaw's Cove emerged, in all its glory.

We were on top of the world.

And the view of the Thames River? From the best unit in the place?.

Incredible.

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Um, hello? I got nothin'.

Oh, don't worry, Mom. I was perfectly safe.

Really.

Imagine living up here? You've got the River . . .

. . . you've got the trains . . .

. . . and you lord over all of it.
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Soon, kids, soon. Soon this will be the place to be. And anyone who lives here will get to look at this:

Oh New London. How lovely you are.

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If only we got to wear hard hats.