Condo Upsides

While there are definite disadvantages to condo living compared to owning a single family dwelling, there are also to be found, large advantages. After deciding that you are willing to put up with joint ownership of your home and the condo rules and living in close quarters with others,  look at the upside of condo life. First, as I have found, you will have wonderful neighbors. No one where I live is unpleasant, at least, I don't see any of that nature. Of course, there are folks who are rather unusual, but isn't that what makes our world interesting and challenging? We aren't sheep. Also, on the people end of things in condos, you can make very good use of these fine fellow condo owners. If you travel away for a time, you can make reciprocal arrangements for your buddies to water your plants, pick up your mail, be your security check and in some exceptionally generous cases, look after your dog or cat. The latter is naturally in exchange for the same service for their home and or animal unless you are simply a pet lover who doesn't own one. and have fallen in love with their little pal. Another very enjoyable experience in condo mondo, is the social aspect. If you are fortunate enough, as I am, to have various volunteer committees in your complex, there are parties arranged, dinners, social evenings and card nights. Gardening is available if you join that committee. Group living can be rewarding in sensing the old-fashioned or perhaps, "new fashioned" lifestyle, of sharing and caring for those in your immediate community. Bringing finances into the picture, one asks, where else can you have access to the benefits of services that are arranged by your management company: easy collection of fees and special assessments, places to report damage or repair needs, security issues, gardening and cleaning maintenance and safety checks that are necessary to large buildings and a host of other details you are happy to pass on to condo personnel. When you are elderly or somehow in need of immediate assistance at times, condo living is ideal. There is always someone nearby to offer help. It might be something minor or even major, but as I have found in those I live with and beside, there is nothing but well-meaning generosity of spirit and action all around me in this edifice. When I was laid up with a bad back, someone returned my library book. Another I had met only once or twice, brought me some homemade soup and an apple pie. Yet another dear soul went out and bought a medication that I had run out of and needed. Still others offered their assistance with advice and kind words. It made me very grateful that I lived with those who had caring instincts. I will repay their kindnesses by mirroring what they did. It is a world lesson that everyone could attend.  Again, you don't see this or other similar details about condo life in the fine print, but I recommend that you "read between the lines". If you do, you might be surprised at how great condo life can be!