Rent or Purchase?

The other day, my colleague asked me if I have been fully utilizing the company’s relocation expenses. That was when I remembered receiving an important e-mail sometime last week from the relocation counselor. In the e-mail, I was asked if I still planned on buying a house in Red Deer, and that I have until 6 May 2008 to qualify for corporation-paid lawyer fees, house inspections, and other real estate expenses.

Our conversation took flight into a discussion of the benefits of purchasing a home. Currently, I am still renting in the same, somewhat spooky apartment. But rest assured, I got some help … and so far, nothing weird has happened since then. I still sleep with my side lamp on though, tee-hee.

From this discussion, I got to learn a few things about mortgages and what not. You see, I was worried about being stuck with the mortgage contract. I have to admit that I had little knowledge on this subject. Seriously, it was mind-boggling to think that it will be difficult to sell the house 5 years later if I needed to. Obviously, I did not know that there are different types of mortgages, and that it is easily transferable to the next purchase of a home.

My colleague was explaining why he wanted to purchase a home when he started working here. I guess he really had the passion and all, but for me … I just feel that I am not ready to buy a house (myself), and take care of it (myself). However, he suggested that I could always rent out a room, and that will help subsidize my monthly mortgage payments. Aiyo, I don’t think I am ready to live with housemates again! I have had terrible experiences back in university. Who is to say that it won’t happen again? He did have a reasonable point about screening potential housemates, and that it will probably be a girl who is mature and earns a living too. My best friend also pointed out that I won’t feel as lonely anymore. It is always nice to have someone there when you come back from work.

But you know, I think I will stick to pets to cure my loneliness. I am thinking of getting a cat … but I don’t know how successful this plan is going to be as my apartment is a no-pet zone. In other words, no pets are allowed in the building.

My mind wandered off for a minute there … unless the house comes equipped with a dishwasher … I don’t mind … I desperately need a dishwasher !! I cannot stand washing my dishes anymore, especially when I have to cook my dinner and lunch (for work).

People at work tend to think that renting is not worth it. Of course, your rent is helping the building owner to pay off his/her mortgage. In the end, it is not your property and it is of no value. With a home of your own, the property is under your name. It’s ultimately yours, per say. And I guess it will be cozy, there will be a garage to keep luxury cars from the horrid winter weather … there will also be a nice backyard for summer basking-in-the-sun activities …

Then again, I think “some” people here try to lure newbies into settling down in Red Deer FOREVER. They convince you a whole bunch of butterflies in your garden when ultimately their goal is to keep you a slave on their land. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Heck, they even try to lure your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancee, to work in the same company …

But wait … am I ready to shovel the walkway all through winter? Am I ready to clean an area three times as large as what I live in now? Am I ready to share furniture with a housemate? Am I ready to deal with her habits? Am I ready to handle the stress of buying and then selling the house?

My colleague says I lead a carefree life. And, I could not agree more. Until the day I am tied to wedding vows with a baby on its way … I will not feel secure with just a purchase of a house.

The Bachelor Life

It’s a Friday, and I have nothing to do at work again. I am just pacing myself with breaks and studying some materials. I feel so restless when I am not busy. In my head, it does feel weird.

I like being in the apps room with the process apps engineers. There’s always something interesting to talk about (other than work). At least, it is not boredom before my eyes and ears. Honestly, I cannot sit still in the office for more than an hour. I wish I was working in those media publishing companies where there’s always a deadline every week. Run, run, run … rush, rush, rush … work, work, work.

Now, my daily work routine is …

Check e-mail … No important e-mail for self … check calender … update calender … now what? No one is here … what to do? … keep studying the materials … set-up meetings for projects … sit around … la la la …

Basically, I cannot do anything until the meetings start and that is because I facillitate those meetings. Perhaps, I need 20 projects in my backlog to get myself busy as a project manager. Currently, I only have four in my backlog. What more, I need to get approvals for each stage of the project before moving on to the next. And you know, as a junior … my projects are not priority items. If I forget to set a deadline for review or completion, it will be forgotten … like a lone piece of rotten pie.

That’s my life at work. Nothing too exciting. But wait …

Then, I come home from work. I make my dinner, watch TV, play the guitar a little. My mind has secondary thoughts of going to the gym (to excersize) but my body does not register. I end up slouching on the couch, downloading J-dramas to watch. Then, I go to bed at 10 or 11 PM, feeling restless again … thinking of what there is to do at work the next day.

Again, nothing too exciting. Still, it isn’t as bad. I have guitar lessons on Tuesdays, line dancing on Wednesdays, and Yoga on Fridays. Usually, I travel on weekends to see my old friends or Jackie.

What else is there to do in Red Deer? I am constantly trying to fill up empty time. Maybe I should advertise myself as a tutor. There is not much volunteer work available to fit my schedule because work already takes up 40 hours of my time per week! Then, I start to wonder when will I ever get to rekindle those fun moments with friends again … when will I ever be satsified with what I have … when will I find that lifestyle that I want so badly … when will I finally reach my breaking point, pack my bags and leave?

I am 23 years old, and still growing (damn). Every second the clock ticks seems so precious and fragile. This is my bachelor life. Am I ready to move on to the next phase?

My Malaysian Slang Surfaced Yesterday

I am still feeling fuzzy over events that happened yesterday. Either my brain was depleted of food or I was just feeling stressed out.

I told the associate that the printer was stuck. What comes to your mind when you hear someone say “The printer is stuck” ?

I know I received a confused facial expression as a response.

It was snowing for a bit later that day. I was rushing to my line dancing class when I saw my car covered in snow. But this is what I told Jackie … “My car snowed!”

What a showcase of words fluttering through my mind. I guess it did fluttered around too much. I think my true intention was to merely inform the associate that the printer was not working because the printing paper keeps getting stuck in the machine. As for the snowed car … I had this image of snow just falling gently over my car. Nowhere else but my car. Sort of like those cartoons that have scenes where the black cloud scoots above someone’s head and rain over them. Yeah, that was somewhat similar to my mind’s image of my car being snowed.

Geez. It was just one of those days …