LIVING ALONE| THE FREEDOM AND WHAT NOT

Excuse my self-centered mug

It wasn't something I considered a big move, in fact, I still lived in the same compound but will be transferring to a different unit.

However, it was major! why? Mainly because I lived in the same unit for 8 years. That was long! The memories that I had in that place somehow shaped my me for the better. Those were crucial events that molded the person that I am today and the path that I wanted to take in the future.

It was where the ultimate dreams happened because I didn't just wake up and decided that I wanted to be a writer. The first characters that I created and the first plot of my first book materialized one Sunday lazy afternoon while I was in my bed procrastinating like I had all the times in the world. I am an independent person and I am always been that way ever since I can remember. I lived alone in my uncle's house when I was in my senior year in high school which was scary if you really think about it mainly because I was a kid. 

But in terms of living alone - it was the most liberating experiences I had and I didn't want to change it any other way. I learned more about myself by living alone. It was scary yet it was cool because I got to play how to be an adult before I truly became a real adult. But the perks of being young was being fearless of mostly anything. I was never scared of being by myself even though when times that I got sick with fever. I took myself to the doctor, got my prescriptions, bought my medicines and went home. Even when I was a 16 year old boy, I was very responsible for myself. I had that inner realization that my mom lived a plane rides away from me and so were my relatives. I was the only one and I had nothing but myself to rely on. 

The drive to be independent is embedded in my bones. I loved the freedom of buying what I needed to sustain myself. The freedom of deciding the color of paint to buy for my walls. The grocery shopping for food and learning its health benefits. The kind of paintings that I wanted to hang on the wall. Paying the bills and budgeting are something you have to expect doing. Sometimes the type of person you wanted to invite in your place somehow becomes an excitement.  Though I am not this person. I didn't invite guests in my place and I didn't feel obligated to do so as well. I felt like my place is sacred and the only person I allowed here are immediate family members and my partner.

I know living alone is scary for some. Heck! it isn't for everyone and that's a known fact. There are people specially here in my country who are contented to live with family members since here in the Philippines, you are not actually oblige to move out of your parents house the moment you hit adulthood. There's no 30-ish living in the parent's basement story-line here because 1.) most Filipino houses don't have basement and 2.) Family bond is so tight that parents don't kick their kids out to live on their own. If you want to live with your parents all your adult lives then that's fine because it's acceptable here and no one will judge you. 3.) Filipino parents love to see their children around. 

But then there are people who are itching to be living alone like me. Aside from the fact that I am also an introvert person, I also thought that living alone is one of the most exciting parts of being an adult. You don't have to have your own family to live alone. You just have to make that decision for yourself. I did!

Here in the Philippines, the rent ranges for as low as 4000 pesos to 20,000 pesos or depending on what type of lifestyle do you have. If you have money power then you can afford to buy yourself a condo unit along BGC or Makati for that matter. But if you're a regular employee then you can rent a bachelor's pad closer to your working place. You just have to be creative and find that cheaper place if you're in a tight budget like me.

I've been in the same compound for 11 years. I lived in a high end village but the land lady owned the compound charges 4000 to 6000 pesos for each room. The rooms look old and outdated but if you wanted  to have it renovated then that's on you and not the land lady job. That's actually her grand rule - that the tenant will carry all the charges for the renovation. My old room was big but it was definitely screaming for repair but then I decided it's about time to move out and transfer to a new one. I have the new room restored a bit and I bought an Air Conditioning that I found on sale at SM and have it installed. Since I have a graveyard shift at work, it's important for me to have at least 8 hour sleep and now I am able to do that amidst the hot tropical summer that the country is suffering right now. 

I have to say, getting an AC is no longer a luxury - it's a means to survive the heat of summer and getting through it alive. LOL

Xoxo