Resilience

 I've got custody of two more cats this weekend - Irene and Philip. Their Dad is going away for the weekend, so I'm on feed, water and cuddle duty. I've met Irene before, but Philip, who's fairly new is a ginger. This should be fun.

Their dad and I had a chat about a few things - what to feed them, when to come in etc. Then we got talking about the state of the block. 

I've lived in this place for a very long time. There's been a lot of changes. Being two floors up and at the back of the block, I'm lucky - it's quiet, secure and I have lovely neighbours. 

Across the other side of the driveway, things are not as good. There's been problems with the hot water, the plumbing. Land recession has meant the building has needed to be repinned, and walls reinforced, plus there are ongoing dramas with gates  and the body corporate... which I don't have anything to do with. 

Another thing that happens occasionally, cars get broken into. In the last 20 years I've been done twice. But I make an effort to ensure the car is locked and I don't leave anything of value in there for just this reason. In the past, cars were robbed more regularly. It was also worse when there was an active drug dealer across the road. We'd often find people shooting up in the car ports - that hasn't happened in years. 

My neighbour was saying he was wondering if he'd made the right move moving here. He said about some local shops being fire-bombed, the dodgy neighbours in the next block over (there are some trippers over there) and a few other things. 

Oh, I should mention, he's in his twenties. 

"So, are you scared?"

"Not really."

"Are you running a bootleg tobacco shop, with some stand over men wanting safety money?"

"No."

"Do you check your car is locked before leaving the carport?"

"I'm getting better at it."

"Do you walk down the street at night and feel unsafe?"

"Not particularly."

"Then what are you complaining about? It's only the dodgy tobacconists who are getting fire-bombed - though I feel for the shops next door to them. You're taking your personal safety seriously. You're a young bloke. Why move? It's just as bad everywhere else - if not worse. Crime happens."

"You're awfully blase about this," he told me.

"Mate, I lived in London in the 90s when the IRA bombed indiscriminatingly. I've been here when junkies left their syringes in the hallways. I was here before the injecting room cleaned up the streets. I've travelled the world alone. I like living here. I'm also happy that I'm not in the other block."

The youth of today - utter snowflakes. Little resilience. 

 Or am I just a Gen X woman who gives few fucks and doesn't get phased? 

Maybe I'd feel the same if I was in my 20s.... but I'm forged from sterner stuff. 

Today's song: