Tonight when sticking on the flood lights and making sure the electric fence was working it hit home that this is not normal and what quality of life is this. Yes we can eat vey well cheaply in comparison to the rest of the world and our medical services if you are on private schemes are world class for now. Education is still in my opinion better here than most other countries and why we moved back from the UK for my kids to benefit.
Now that we have returned from our 6 day trip in the Algarve which was not holiday ,but more of a fact finding mission firstly to see if we liked the place. The next question was could we see ourselves living here and the answer was a definite yes.
I have to admit I enjoyed everything and I kind of miss the place already for what it offered. Safety is always going to be on your mind especially if you live in Johannesburg as you have to be vigilant at all times. I am not saying there is no crime in the Algarve, but there is a massive difference.
The ability to go for a walk or ride a bike and not have to go to a gym to keep fit which is not me. I would be active every day if I could by doing exercise outside. Friends of mine were attacked on a cycle trail last year so nowhere is safe.
What was noticeable was many people were out walking along the beach front in the evenings and many of these people were the older generation and families. Parents and their kids all riding bikes and not stuck at home in front of the tv or computer. This is not something we see here even though lately we have been getting lots of outsiders walking their dogs or running around our gated community due to it being safe.
All the time I was in Portugal I never saw one electric fence and it is refreshing to see when coming from a country with such extremes. I don't ever think I can let my guard down due to the way you have been conditioned to think as you have to. Many may not understand how tiring this is eve when living in a guarded neighborhood. It is far worse outside these communities as I never slept much from Thursday until Sunday morning due to literally guarding the house and family. This paid off as over the 3 years we lived in that house our neighbors were attacked a total of 13 times between them and us not once.
Friday and Saturday nights in the early ours I often here gunshots echoing around the valley and the tracker helicopter chasing stolen/hijacked cars. The noises are a constant reminder of how bad things are out there beyond our gated community. My daughter and grand kids moved into their new home last weekend and they have no extra security besides a boundary wall that I could climb over. I have no doubts they will be robbed during the day time when no one is home and it is a matter of time as the statistics are not on your side.
In South Africa you need money as all the extras are not cheap like private medical and private security plus the extra precautions like electric fencing, house alarms and external motion beams just to have a decent nights sleep. I know for certain we will be moving within the next year or two as the differences in what lifestyle is available is so vast.
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It sounds a little like living in a war zone and I don't know how everyone there does not have some form of something like PTSD. I know, that I don't know anything about the details, but I can't imagine anyone that has a real choice, staying in a situation like that, especially with a family. I'm not saying all that meaning about you as you are telling that you know you want to go. I also know there would be some people that would think they had no way out too. It's such a shame there is anywhere like that, but from stories I hear/read from many directions, unfortunately it is happening in multiple places. It seems there is nothing much being done to the criminals and gangs. I would be frightened out of my wits to be in such a place. Certainly I have always known that no one is exempt from possible break ins and attacks, but here, you feel fairly safe most of the times but still take certain precautions to help not invite such things.
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Not quite that bad and also when you have grown up with this issue you are just used to it and just have better security than your neighbors. If you don't have the means to get out of a situation you have to find away.
Wow! The pressure of never feeling safe and having to be on your guard all the time must be terrible.
We had a black South African cleaner for a long time and when we asked her why she chose Israel over other places she could work she said: "personal safety".
The ability of a 14 year old girl to walk or use public transport safely in Tel Aviv at 2am in the morning, as my daughter did, is something priceless.
Maybe this is partly why it is so expensive.
And Yes, this ironically still true despite Israel being at war for over 500 days.
I think the recent trip highlighted what we live with and just accept the situation and you do not realise how bad things are. You are on guard and vigilant like everyone should be no matter where you live. At night time in certain areas we do not stop at traffic lights and basically move slowly through a red light if no cars are around. Common sense goes a long way here and for the most part it is still safe, but you have to always be aware.
I don't think that's legal here. Imagine, even if the voltage is low, someone with a heart problem or pacemaker can die or get hurt and you go to jail. South Africa is the wild west, but you can't do that in other countries.
I can't imagine living in such danger you have to face 24/7, so moving in a country where you can live freely is the right decision. Make it happen, asap!
I say up the voltage and if you want to climb over be my guest. Having a pussy type fence does no one any favors and is there as a deterrent. I think many of us have been zapped by our fences just to make sure it is working properly. Am alarm is sounded if the fence is cut so it may or may not prevent someone from getting into your property, but is the fist line of defense. I will make it happen some how.
The new place you are about to reside is ideally safe with fresher air on the side, based on what you have written. And the decision to move is just right knowing the plight you and your family might possibly encounter. To be in a situation where our family's safety is compromised is enough to make us paranoid. I had been in that incident too, though not as intense as your circumstances. And just like you, my decision to move away from that place proved to be the right one emphasizing the safety of my family plus the good sleep we deserve each night, while we are all safe to walk around the neighborhood to sweat out. Thanks for sharing this reflection of yours. And may the desire of your heart to move away soon be realized. Stay safe everyone!
Yes this is all very important and why I will make this happen as staying is not really an option any more.
Security is essential for a good quality of life, as it greatly contributes to human psychological well-being and overall health. In my opinion, security is one of the priority elements when choosing a place to live.
Yes security is important as it gives you peace of mind. Every town and city as areas you would avoid.