For the last three years Ben Eick has enjoyed living in his comfortable three-bedroom two-bathroom Honeysuckle apartment with plenty of nice views outside and art, plants and music within. It's not his first time living the apartment lifestyle, and he thinks apartment living attracts a whole new culture and a whole new type of people.
"I love the location, I love the bright airy feel, I love the fact that there's kind of no insects. I'm five stories up, but there's no flies or mozzies," he says. "You get a little noise from the streets, but you shut the doors. Things don't go too loud around here. By 11:30 things are pretty much tidied up."
His apartment gives him lovely reprieve.
"All my life up until about 40, I lived in homes with backyards, done retaining walls fences, lawns. I'm over it. I like waking up on Saturday morning and thinking all I have to do is water my plants, there's the gardening done," he says.
I love the location, I love the bright airy feel.
Ben Eick
His apartment is full of healthy plants, both inside and out on the balcony. He gives them plenty of TLC; shows on the television have to compete with the impressive ivy climbing around it.
Eick's full-time job is mortgage broker, and he loves being able to walk to his job in Newcastle West. He's also a musician. His instruments are all around the house. From 1994 to 2012 he toured Australia and played in a duo called Full House. These days he plays music around Newcastle with his daughter Bonnie; she sings, he plays. (They've been performing since she was young and now she's a mum herself.)
One of Eick's favorite things to do is have friends come over and jam. He hopes the music has never bothered the neighbours.
"I like the safety aspect as well, security-wise. There's a lot of security in an apartment, no break-ins or troubles," he says.
The apartment is smart as well! It's set up with voice-activated Google Nest. He has interactive speakers in bedroom and living room. He can play music, news, weather and more He can use it for the TV and the security camera.
Prior to Honeysuckle, Eick spent a lot of his life living in Port Stephens. He found the Bay pretty and serene, but also a bit boring.
He loves watching the ships going into the harbour now and his vision of the Carrington basin. He notices things like a warship being released or the unloading of new ferries. He observes when freight, yachts, grain, even orange juice from concentrate are arriving in Carrington. He picks up on all kinds of things.
From another window he can see the Christ Church Cathedral, the Anzac walkway and Newcastle Town Hall. He likes knowing what time it is just by listening out for the clocktower bell.
"I'm abreast of the news. I know what's happening before it comes on Facebook," he jokes.
He has plenty to watch from his windows and balcony and he has plenty to appreciate from the inside as well.
The artwork and sword all have a story behind them. Much of his art comes from his travels. He has a Santorini print, a Ray Tabora piece he purchased in Hawaii that the Hawaiian artist specifically touched up for him. He has a Northern Territory piece from aboriginal artists Tommy Crow and an Australian nightscape painting by Australian artist John Bradley.
The sword in particular begs explanation.
"My brother started reading Lord of the Rings to me when I was little," Eick says. "He would go silent getting to the good bits because he was reading so fast."
The sword on the wall is Andril's Sword and Eick also has it tattooed on his arm. For him, it represents brotherhood, literacy and learning.
He loves exploring and walking around the city checking out the industry and architecture. He goes for drinks at the Honeysuckle Hotel, but it's hard to pick a favourite when there's so many options.
For Eick the ease and unique experience makes everyday life by the harbour an absolute treat.
