'This Is My Home': The Railroad Apartment Mistaken For A Vintage Shop (VIDEO)

Home can be a cookie cutter ranch-style house in the suburbs, or it can be a railroad apartment in Manhattan stuffed full of collectives and antiques often mistaken for a vintage shop. The latter is the case for the adorable elderly man featured in Departure | Arrival Films' short film "This Is My Home."

The short vignette features an unnamed man in a newsboy cap talking about how his home is a 32-year collection in the making; from photographs of his cat to neon signs. The man's slow, methodical speech, expressive eyebrows and sincere eyes accent his storytelling as he details the history of his collection.

"A lot of senior citizens feel that they've been discarded," he explains. "But when people stop in front of my place, they bring life to me because they're recognizing me in a sense."

Watch "This Is My Home:"

This Is My Home from Mark on Vimeo.

Comments

[keene]

10:26 AM on 03/03/2012

wonder where he sleeps?

[SarahBethPenn]

01:22 PM on 02/22/2012

He is a truly happy person who enjoys meeting everyone and making them smile. I so hope to be like that when I am his age. His heart just shines.

For those saying he is a hoarder, you are wrong. Inviting people in and giving things away is not hoarder behavior. He's just a man who likes things and showing them off while meeting people daily. I want to meet this man. He's an inspiration.

[Nihilicious]

09:28 AM on 02/22/2012

A chic and tasteful hoarder

[janfernandez]

09:25 AM on 02/22/2012

Inspiring.

[JohnnyKay]

09:04 AM on 02/22/2012

Living the secret to Life.

Wonderful.

[artist-53]

08:34 AM on 02/22/2012

Thank you for posting this wonderful piece.

[MiddleRiver]

08:21 AM on 02/22/2012

What an open heart! People see in others what they have in their own souls. Those who fear theft would steal from you.

[Candide33]

07:34 AM on 02/22/2012

What a lovely story, don't you wish more people could be happy like that?

[tj3usa]

07:24 AM on 02/22/2012

In Saint Augustine Florida there a row of shops made from residential homes. My friend and I went into one and there was a family watching TV in their living room.

[Helene Anderson]

07:02 AM on 02/22/2012

how refreshing to find someone so simply happy with such a kind heart. would not be surprised if his collectibles turn out to be worth a fortune...but I think he feels they are worth even more than money in the world...

[diegaboo]

05:58 AM on 02/22/2012

I walked right in once thinking it was an antique store.
The man politely told me is wasn't a store but rather
his home.
I felt so embarrassed.
He was so kind and gentle.
A rarity in this city, so it seems.

[jaredbrain]

05:26 AM on 02/22/2012

Next week, on a very special Hoarders...

[oxjr]

06:45 AM on 02/22/2012

Collectors show and display their collections. A hoarder is almost always ashamed of his/her hoard.

[Hank007]

10:02 PM on 02/21/2012

This guy is awesome.

[Xinerama]

08:54 AM on 02/22/2012

This guy is the lonesomest man on the planet. *But so am I, with 0 fans*

[Tracee Collins]

10:25 AM on 02/22/2012

Well dang. I'll be your first, as long as you're not a GOPer.

[AitsMe]

07:54 PM on 02/21/2012

I love this little story & would like to visit this man. Where in Manhattan is he? I wonder if he'll be overrun with "customers" soon.

[weisja4]

09:54 AM on 02/22/2012

I was trying to figure that out too, it looks like place on 12th or 13th in the E. Village. but i'm not sure