Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani expats in the U.S. have asked us why we have not considered buying a house yet. For the expats, owning an independent house in a foreign country is a life event. Most of these expats have families back home who live in apartments - a three- or four-bedroom house in the U.S. is therefore something many dream of. And once such a house is bought, they proudly talk about it with their extended families.
But then, every individual is different. I personally like living in apartments - I don't cate if it is small or big as long as it is decent-looking and in a safe neighborhood. Why? I am not lazy but I am not just motivated enough to mow lawn in summer and snowplow driveways in winter. In an apartment, the property management hires people for these chores and many others.
Then think of the trouble and cost one has to bear when a faucet stops working, a bathroom drain becomes clogged or a door knob breaks. In an apartment, when something goes wrong, all I have to do is make a phone call or write an email to the property management, and things are usually taken care of in 24 hours. I am afraid I will not enjoy this comfort in my own house.
This is such a big world and there are so many places to go, see and live. A house means that I will become stuck in one place for at least 5 years. It also means that my husband will not be able to accept a better job offer from another company just because that company does not have an office in our present state of residence. An apartment makes life more mobile.
Keeping an apartment clean is far easier than keeping a house clean and tidy - it demands far less time and energy. No, I am not lazy. I just happen to believe that my time can be put into better use.
Accept it or not, a house accumulates junk. I have been to houses that have far too many things than necessary. House owners often stuff their homes with things just because they have the space to do so. In an apartment, you run out of space too quickly and therefore you have to either throw away or learn to spend carefully. I have mastered the latter and hence, my 1,000 square-feet apartment does not feel cluttered or suffocative despite its small size.
Yes, living in an apartment gives you less freedom. You cannot paint your walls in whatever shades you want (without a fee), you cannot choose your bathroom tiles and appliances and so many other things. Besides, your hallways can be made dirty by the muddy shoes of a neighbor and putting up with an annoying neighbor is not easy!
But I am not yet comfortable with the idea of living in one place forever. Perhaps, a day will come when I too will want to settle down, but that time has not just come yet.
By Wara Karim
The Daily Star link
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