Out and About

It's easy to forget how isolated one can be living behind security gates in the same community where you work and (if applicable) go to church. The mad dash to the shops is like a foray into the wilds - you keep your eyes open, head down, and get it over with as soon as you've done the hunter-gathering thing, then retreat to safety again.

Safety - yes, there is that. It's like living in the past. I've left my car unlocked for a few years when the one lock was broken, and at least twice left the entire bunch of office and house and car keys hanging in the front door overnight. Our door is always open in summer, with no burglar bars or security gate. The kid stays home alone over holidays without fear, and runs off to his friend without locking up - the only thing he does is ensure the dogs are kicked out. It's a bit of a la-la land for South Africa, to tell the truth.

Because I've noticed how security concious folk are outside these gates. I've been getting out to meet the locals, quite by accident, and all thanks to fixing up an engine to make it go again.

The Landy bloke from yesterday was talking to a neighbour from behind locked gates when I arrived, and even then had to unlock the house to enter it when we went looking for an alternator.

Today I met an auto-electrician in a quieter part of town, who works out of his garage. Still there are high fences and tight gates surrounding his yard. They were open when I arrived, but don't stay that way when no-one's home.

It's been eye-opening for me. We're thinking of a move to an area outside of the gates, away from where we've lived for 11 years. We're going to have to jack up the way we do things, how we look after our property and ourselves. We'll have to learn to lock up and set alarms and check for folk who may not be as innocent as they seem passing by.

In the meantime though, I'm having fun getting to know a wide variety of very interesting people, just down the road! And garnering knowledge about everything from bushes (not the kind you water, but the kind that help an alternator along) to who owns what (Landies, of course).

About time we exited the enclave and met the locals...