Some Different Movement; Condo Checks

After Saturday's walk of regret, I didn't feel like walking in the heat of the day today, nor risk leaving it until tonight due to a chance of more rain (I am so ready for the end of rainy season). So midday, when it was mostly overcast but a little sunny, I did a different kind of movement:

I did about 15 minutes of vaguely-aerobic movement in the pool, which is about as much as I can make myself do without the structure of a class (I get bored on my own). Between that and condo checks, I'm having trouble summoning the energy to get my packing in order, but I think after a little reading time, I will get a second wind.

About the condo checks, since there was some interest in that topic. This is a small building, 15 units, and mostly stable, not a ton of turnover. There's a good sense of community and people looking out for each other, something that I appreciated a ton before I moved down here, knowing that there were people nearby for my mother (well, most of the year, anyway).

Part of the reason I'm willing to keep doing the condo checks is because of this sense of community. Part of it is because it's important to my mother, and harder for her to do on her own these days. And a small part of it is selfish: I don't want to have anyone trying to pressure me to be on the condo board: it's a thankless job, mostly, and I already have one of those. This way, I'm doing my part for the community already.

As for payment, I don't charge for it; my mother never did, and frankly I think keeping track of who is away for how long and how much to charge and who has paid and who hasn't sounds like a deeply unappealing way to spend my time. Most people do give either cash/checks or gift cards, which is much welcomed. Some people bring treats from where they were, or do other things (for instance, one is a supremely handy person who is happy to help out with random things around the condo and building, and much valued for it). It all works out.

As to what I look for and what I catch, the overall process is simple. Go in, kick off shoes, and walk around barefoot, the better to catch any water on the floor in the kitchen or bathrooms. Yes, that has happened! Even though people turn their water off. Leaky dishwasher, in the most recent case. 

While in the kitchen, open the fridge and touch a shelf to make sure it's cold (some people's fridges have a temperature display on the front and some don't). Walk around looking for anything out of place, any signs of water on the ceilings, that the lanais look okay. No water in the bottom of the water heater area.

It's funny how much you can notice unconsciously: I once glanced into a closet and stopped dead, something's different, before realizing a Command hook holding bathing suits had fallen and was on the floor. Not a problem, but a change!

In the bathrooms, look for any signs of water anywhere, including around the base of the toilets, as little leaks have happened there before. (Apparently when the water is turned off and evaporates out of the bowl, the seal can dry out enough for some drips.)

Finally, the big one is the temperature. Everyone has their own idea of what temp to leave it at, but a/c problems are the number one thing I catch, so I always report back on those being what they're supposed to be.

Some people have special requests. In one unit, they like to leave the ceiling fans on (some do and some don't), and the one in the living room will sometimes turn itself from low to high, and needs switching back. Another is worried about water under the sinks, and leaves a flashlight so those can be checked specially (as opposed to just the floor in front of the sinks, which I check for everyone). A couple of people want something added to their a/c systems monthly (one vinegar, the other bleach) to keep things running right. (Does it need to be done? Who knows.) I also check a couple of garages: one had a flooding problem and wants confirmation that the dehu and fan they set up are going, and the other leaves a car on a charger but that will turn itself off if there's a power surge, so I often have to reset it.

I don't know, when I write it all out, it sounds like a lot, but I'm honestly in each unit for about 2 minutes at a time, and although I'm pretty sick of it by this time of year, it feels good to be providing a valuable service to friendly neighbors. Grease the social wheels, you know? We all do better when we look out for each other.