I live in New York City. Land of the lack of public toilets. Not that I love public toilets, they are gross. But they are really a necessity. When I lived in Lake Tahoe, CA there were toilets everywhere. Sure you had your usual toilets available in restaurants and at beaches and (some) trail heads. But what really blew my mind is that drug stores and supermarkets had them too. And they were nice, clean, and open to the public!
In NYC it just doesn't happen. The only supermarkets that have toilets are Whole Foods and I'm pretty sure that is because they just happen to be a California company. But even then there is usually only two stalls and a line of women snaking down the hall. Drug stores- don't even think about it. Usually the only time you could use a drug store bathroom was if you had a compassionate manager and a toddler about to burst. And that has become rare. (My dad use to manage drug stores and he said he only ever let a woman with a small child or a pregnant woman use the bathroom).
Why the pondering of public toilets? Well, we are in the midst of our second heat wave and the only survival advice people tell you is: Stay Hydrated. Well, that just isn't an option for me. I've had a whole week off from work and school and have done almost nothing and gone pretty much nowhere. And one of the major reasons for this is that I'm so afraid that I will have to pee from staying hydrated and will have nowhere to "go".
On Wednesday we went to the 9/11 Memorial and I knew, from the warning on their website, that there were no bathrooms there. So for at least 2 hours before we headed out I drank no liquids. Then we went and it was crazy hot and horrendously humid. I wandered around staring at the names of the victims and taking in couples who would stand in front of the pools of water and smile for the camera (it was weird- I get taking a picture, I find it strange that it would be a "cheerful" picture) but the "worst" part was that I was SO THIRSTY. And here were these giant pools of water that had loud waterfalls cascading into the basins. All I could think about was drinking water and going to the bathroom. It was terrible.
And then we walked up to Chinatown to a restaurant and at some point, while drinking a Green Tea margarita I felt like I was going to pass out. And apparently, I looked it too because Mark asked me if I was okay. I was not. I was hot and sweaty and drinking water, chasing it with margarita (I know, I know, don't say it) and to top it all off this restaurant didn't have air conditioning (bastards).
So now we are starting another heat wave. And I'm STRESSED. We are planning on going out to lunch, walking across Central Park to the Whitney so that I can take in an exhibit on Hopper Drawings (me love Edward Hopper) and then probably drip our sweaty way back home. And even though I know that I will, eventually, end up at an institution with a restroom, I get nervous about Staying Hydrated. I don't want to pass out but once I think about the lack of restrooms my bladder instantly feels like it's going to explode.
Did I mention I have anxiety issues?
The problem is that the only solution to this matter is a little hard to make happen. I was at the gym (shocker, I know) and I was already having a little panic attack about all the water I would have to drink when I got home and then I would be out on a train and then in Central Park and blah blah blah when I realized:
"If I had a Invisibility Cloak like Harry Potter, I could pee anywhere!" I had an image of me just chilling somewhere and having to go really, really bad. I would just find some solitary little corner somewhere in a park and cover up with the cloak and go. I mean, it sounds gross, but it would be strictly for emergencies. And it would be really helpful when babysitting (they always have to go at the worst times). So. All I need is an Invisibility Cloak and my bladder worries will be no more!
