What the Covid-19 Pandemic Is Teaching Me: The Value of A Good House
Many of us in Iloilo have been self-quarantining at home for more than a month now as our contribution to “flattening the curve,” or curbing the rise of Covid-19 cases. The situation doesn’t play out similarly to everyone, though: some are enjoying the comforts of being at home all the time, while others have to be out there to earn a living despite the risks.
I am one of those privileged to be able to continue working while stuck at home, going out only to buy groceries and/or medicine. Like many of you who are adjusting to a work-from-home setup, I’ve been busier than ever — but also more anxious and tired. This new life that the pandemic imposed on us takes a little getting used to, to say the least.
My family and I may be isolated from others physically, but we are grateful to have a house that has turned into a sort of a fortress. One thing I’m learning now is that a good house isn’t just a protective structure; it is also a refuge that can shelter you and your loved ones as you seek to withstand a health crisis.
Having your own house is a worthy investment
Even with my years-long experience as a real estate professional, never did I imagine that, at some point, we will be forced to conduct much of our lives within the walls of our house.
But this coronavirus pandemic — particularly the need for physical distancing and self-quarantining to prevent its spread — is showing us that having your own house is a worthy investment.
Shelter is one of our basic needs, along with food and clothing — this we learn very early in our lives. (At present time, the internet is right next to them.) But as we grow older, we become more inclined to consuming what satisfies hunger and thirst, and acquiring pieces to put on our backs and cover our soles.
We get so used to the idea that we can always rely on somebody else’s roof over our heads — that of our parents or grandparents, a friend, a relative, a landlord — that sometimes we forget the need to have our own.
What really matters
After graduating from college, my mother forced me to get insurance so I would have some “protection” when, for example, I get in an accident. I later became an insurance agent, and I took that as a chance to invest in the education insurance of all my children and in a retirement fund for me and my husband. Along the way I learned about investing in stocks and mutual funds, and apportioned my hard-earned money well.
I thought I got everything covered. And then this Covid-19 pandemic happened — giving me a fresh perspective on what really matters in life.
I am still covered by my insurance, which can shoulder any financial necessity on my part. But my investments in stocks and mutual funds went down and are not of much help now, being “paper investments.” And we can barely stock up on our other funds, with the economy grinding because of the slowdown in work and industry operations.
The enhanced community quarantine has also limited the public’s purchases to just the basic commodities and emergency buys. Do you have multiple pairs of shoes? You won’t use them much; most of the time you are stuck at home wearing flip-flops. Your bags? They are better off hanging. Your clothes and jewelry? Most days you are in “minimalist fashion.” And your car? Its brand and luxurious looks will not save it from being hoarded in the garage for days.
A safe space
You know what stands solid like a rock in these trying times? Our house.
Sure, we have the foodstuff and other basic materials that we need during the quarantine, but I don’t think they are of much value for us without the protection of our home. This house has become our “little world” safeguarding us from an evidently much harsher world out there.
And there is no denying that this pandemic has upended our way of life now — and the way we move in the future. We cannot go back to normal, because “normal” brought us here.
Soon, our houses and other residential spaces — apartments, boarding houses, condominiums — may not just be where we work, sleep, or hang out, but also where we cultivate our own sources of food. Imagine having a part of your residence or office space dedicated to growing vegetables and spices: ingredients right when you need them.
Our house feels too constrained now because we used to consider it simply as a respite from the fast-paced life we have outside it. But if we must embrace our “new normal” and survive the future, we need to invest in a space where we are not just free, comfortable, and productive, but also safe.