![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Life at Ground Level
Aug. 25th, 2020 04:04 pmOne thing I value more and more as time goes on is living in a bungalow. Many retired people, especially if they live alone, opt to live in a medium- or high-rise condo building and I know some of them love that lifestyle. But particularly under pandemic conditions, it can have its downside too.
Most high-rise buildings have a limited number of elevators, one or more of which may be out of action at any given time. And during emergencies such as fires, they may be off-limits entirely. With COVID-19, most building managers have reduced the number of people allowed in an elevator at any one time. In addition, residents are expected to mask up when in any of the other common areas like hallways, laundry rooms, lounges and party rooms (if they're available at all). Would I get outside for my daily walk if I had to endure that every time? Maybe, but probably not. I would almost certainly limit my outings quite drastically. With luck, I'd at least have a fairly spacious balcony.
One of the big reasons people sell their houses to move into a smaller condo unit is to avoid all the maintenance activities like lawn mowing and snow removal. But we hire companies to do that for us and unlike with condo fees, we're not locked in beyond a single season - if we're not satisfied with one supplier, we just contract with a different one next year.
Certainly when it comes to minor repairs beyond the do-it-yourself range, or more major fixes and renovations, choosing the right contractor can be a bit of a chore. We've had mixed results - some really good ones and some not so good. Generally the amount of research homework we do varies directly with the expected financial outlay. Then we've had the occasional heating or plumbing problem or situation where a quick fix - at least an interim one - was needed. But nothing insurmountable.
Who knows what will happen after the pandemic passes - will we finally get a functional LRT, including a link with Gatineau? Will "intensification" proceed apace or will we start to value distancing, at least as an option, in its various forms? I hope to continue living in a city that is vibrant but recognizes the healing power of green space!
Most high-rise buildings have a limited number of elevators, one or more of which may be out of action at any given time. And during emergencies such as fires, they may be off-limits entirely. With COVID-19, most building managers have reduced the number of people allowed in an elevator at any one time. In addition, residents are expected to mask up when in any of the other common areas like hallways, laundry rooms, lounges and party rooms (if they're available at all). Would I get outside for my daily walk if I had to endure that every time? Maybe, but probably not. I would almost certainly limit my outings quite drastically. With luck, I'd at least have a fairly spacious balcony.
One of the big reasons people sell their houses to move into a smaller condo unit is to avoid all the maintenance activities like lawn mowing and snow removal. But we hire companies to do that for us and unlike with condo fees, we're not locked in beyond a single season - if we're not satisfied with one supplier, we just contract with a different one next year.
Certainly when it comes to minor repairs beyond the do-it-yourself range, or more major fixes and renovations, choosing the right contractor can be a bit of a chore. We've had mixed results - some really good ones and some not so good. Generally the amount of research homework we do varies directly with the expected financial outlay. Then we've had the occasional heating or plumbing problem or situation where a quick fix - at least an interim one - was needed. But nothing insurmountable.
Who knows what will happen after the pandemic passes - will we finally get a functional LRT, including a link with Gatineau? Will "intensification" proceed apace or will we start to value distancing, at least as an option, in its various forms? I hope to continue living in a city that is vibrant but recognizes the healing power of green space!
Tags:
