Nuke at night

When life is in limbo, a free microwave means a lot

IN TRANSITION #3

By Benjamin Toff, Globe Correspondent | August 14, 2005
Read it on Boston.com

Editor's note: This is one in an occasional series of reports about the strange time between getting a college diploma and entering real life.

A week ago, I went on a midnight mission to Malden for a microwave. I drove around squinting at street signs in the dark, Internet map printouts in my hands. Was I lost? I couldn't be sure, having only a vague sense of what I was looking for: a Dumpster near a basement door off a carefully concealed side street.

While whizzing past the second of two 24-hour McDonald's (I definitely wasn't in Cambridge anymore), I had one of those outer-body, time-warp experiences where I saw my adult self 10 years from now shaking my head: This is what postgraduate life had in store?

Let me rewind. Despite graduation from Harvard two months ago, I have yet to move out of the dorms. I'm a holdout, a hanger-on -- not quite a squatter exactly (the university agreed to let me stay through the summer), but suddenly an unwelcome visitor on someone else's campus. Even my student ID has expired.

Despite the funny glances I get from underclassmen (''So why are you still here?"), I know very well what I'm doing -- avoiding a summer's worth of rent. The only problem, aside from no air conditioning: no access to a kitchen (and the dining halls are closed till September). Back in June, I thought I could get by on burritos, wraps, and sandwiches, but I realized that my dining-out diet was eating away every penny of my paychecks.

Then a friend moved in, temporarily, with her microfridge. Groceries at last. Ever since, it's been Easy Mac, canned beans, and basmati rice (which nukes surprisingly well). Only now my friend is leaving, and my microwaving days are numbered. Which brings me back to my Malden mission.

I was hooked on the wonder of microwave technology. I couldn't go back. I scoured the Internet for free stuff, and after a few days found what I was looking for. I knew the offering was old, and that I'd have to drive to Malden to retrieve it, but it was free.

I found it wrapped in a black garbage bag beside the Dumpster. Just as promised. I drove the machine home and carried it up five flights of stairs. (Let me tell you, modern microwave technology, if nothing else, is a heck of a lot lighter than it used to be). I quickly tore the plastic to shreds.I am looking forward to many weeks of getting to know my new (old) microwave. A General Electric with decorative fake wood paneling, the oven is enormous -- large enough to cook a whole turkey. I know its retirement is long overdue; it's loud, and vibrates uncontrollably at times, but I couldn't be more pleased. Free stuff feels so good.

The other day, I programmed the clock. It's not much, but it's improved the livability of my dorm room threefold. Ten years from now, I may be laughing. But I doubt I'll be so easily pleased.

Benjamin Toff lives in Cambridge, for the moment, though a move is in store this month. He can be reached at btoff@boston.com.