Almost Feels Like Work

[mrdreamjeans]

Last November I became the on-call Concierge for the building where I live. I agreed to do the job because I no longer wanted to be on a schedule as I had in the previous two years working at State Farm and it was a bit of extra income. It was getting to be too much drama at the State Farm office. My Property and Casualty licenses won’t expire until 2021, but I no longer saw myself continuing there, though the agent wanted me to. 

 

In March of this year, my status changed to Part-Time Concierge for my community. I now work every Friday, every other weekend and as needed. This week harkened back to days gone by. The primary concierge has been on vacation since July 16th and doesn’t return until the 28th. The other part-time concierge and I have split the days she’s been gone. In a normal two-week pay period, I work 20 hours. During this pay period, I will have worked 38 hours. I’m laughing at how little stamina I have for a fairly normal schedule. It’s only 6 hours in a day at the most; but, it’s constant chatting with my neighbors, handling maintenance requests, responding to email and phones; and in the pandemic, handling food item requests and payment in the Bistro. I also give tours of the building and assist with leasing of apartments. 

 

I am very proud to live in this community. I know every resident’s name and most family members; I try to remember their preferences, their quirks, anything I can do to make their lives easier. It can be quite the balancing act as an employee of the company and as a resident of the community where I work.

 

My job might not sound like much to outsiders; but as an introvert, the fact my neighbors are going stir crazy after four months of isolation and beginning to let the most minor of things upset them, is exhausting. We are a vital, vigorous group of renters between the ages of 62 and 92. Prior to the pandemic, this place was hopping with small groups participating in Book Club, Mah Jong, Ping Pong, Bible Study and Card Making, Exercise classes and other projects such as Memoir Writing. Several have not retired from the work force.

 

Like a cruise ship you can be as busy here as much as you want, opt in or out of activities. My neighbors and I have been very compliant in wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing, but we can’t be made to wear them. We’re an independent living community, so have free will. But, after four months, the guidelines are wearing on us all. In earlier stages of the pandemic, we collectly felt if we made a determined effort to follow best practices, things would return to normal after a bit of inconvenience.. As everyone knows, wearing a mask’s become a political issue and non-compliance has led to disastrous results. In our building, I can only describe our mental well-being as Pandemic Fatigue.

 

The nursing home across the street strictly followed CDC and State healthcare guidelines; yet still had 38 deaths. We’ve been fortunate; we’ve not had any Covid-19 in our building and hope to remain that way. The other Catholic Eldercare buildings have worked hard to eliminate the virus. As of this week, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus in any of the buildings. Can we keep it that way? I hope and pray so ...

 

Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy my work in this building. I am becoming more and more invested in my neighbors and in living my best life. I’ve begun a fun photo project to help my neighbors get to know each other. I’m calling it, “Get to Know Your Neighbors” (It combines portraits of my neighbors and random facts about them. The challenge will be to match the picture and the fact to the correct person). I’m also working on a second photo project called, “The Dogs of Wyndris”. (We have 11 living here and too many cats to count.) Combined with Georgie’s routine and a few outside commitments, spending 38 hours over two weeks at the reception desk almost feels like work!

Comments

[cjsmith]

Go you! It's so _nifty_ to know one's neighbors. I'm enjoying my tiny little reachings-out in those directions as well.

[mrdreamjeans]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only person trying to move out of my introversion.