Burning down the house: Thoughts on Complexes

We've been here nearly a week now - oh, hold on, no... only 4 days. OK, that's nearly a week. Now where was I..

Oh yes - observations on life in a Complex, otherwise known as the "rich man's squatter camp". Mine is one of 8 or so in this area. They're springing up like well-guarded mushrooms! And within my complex are 140 houses. Actually, you can see us all here. Nicely packed in like sardines in a tin. But anyhoo.

So here's a couple of conclusions after nearly a week / 4 days in a security village.

1. It's safe. Kids wander, people leave their front doors open when they're home, little girls ride their bikes up and down. Cool!

2. There are advantages and disadvantages to living right by the entrance gate. You get home soon which is cool - but anyone getting home late passes right by your bedroom window, and that gate is not the quietest of beasts. It tends to clang open and shut. And exiting the area means a circular tour of the entire place every morning.

3. I have strange neighbours. Or rather one so far. The other was kind enough to hold on to my house key for me while the rest of the fandamily went off for their weekend, and hand it over when I got home from work. But back to said neighbour. I may have inherited either the noisiest, most breed-like-bunnies family in the block, or they just tend to collect everyone else's kids. This evening I was enjoying sitting ON my desk, feet nearly out the window, laptop in lap, drink on windowsill, admiring the sunset. Neighbour rocks up, dumps half a tree in small pieces out of his bakkie (truck), and fires up a bonfire in his braai (barbecue). Hence the title of this post. I'm sure I could feel the heat from my room. The flames could have guided ships home. Add in that the fact that he then positioned himself on the other side of the fire and surreptitiously checked me out.. :-) Funny, that.

4. You get to run into people in a complex. Like fellow Overlanders. And blokes who used to work at your previous place of employment. And the guy that was the youth pastor at the last church you attended, but who is now running Breach. I have yet to meet a lot of my neighbours, but it's a start.

5. Having the first parking bay right as you drive in is a good way to showcase your Landy.. :-) BUT it attracts climb-on kids, who - when shouted at from bedroom window to "Oi! Get off the car!" - become cheeky and ask "what's your name?" etc...

6. I still have a view. Albeit including rooftops. I can see Helderberg Mountain from my bedroom window on the right, and the sunset to the left. Not bad at all.

Tonight the complex is quiet. It seems many are away for the weekend. Only a few lights still on and the weird neighbour's retreated to his abode.

So far so good...