It's been two months now and I'm beginning to appreciate staying in a mature estate, as compared to a new town like Punggol, my previous neighbourhood. Somehow, the people, way of life, facilities and preferences are all different. It reminds me of Hillview, where I grew up.
During the ten years I was in Punggol, I only said hi to members of max. three households. It's got to do with the demographics for sure. The younger couples never experienced kampung life, you can literally see the barriers around them and no words is exchanged unless absolutely necessary. When I was younger, all the neighbours knew the kids and vice versa. We would smile and greet every ten steps along the way. I miss that really but it's evident where I stay now. Some smiles, some hellos, some goodbyes. The minimarts are run by families, who recognise their customers and know where they stay, what they need. That familiarity is priceless.
The amenities are just amazing. It must be the fact that the neighbourhood is a little overcrowded. But choices are aplenty. You have nearby heartland malls, cineplexes but you also get countless kopitiams. Some daily necessities can only be bought at discounted prices. I sound like an Aunty but when life requires you to be more careful with your dollars and cents, you start to appreciate these things in life. Saving 60 cents on shampoo isn't a must but you ask yourself why not? Why should I spent more money in a shop when the other one is just around the block?
Even at 11pm or midnight, you just need to slip into your flip flops, in your T shirt and shorts and pop by the nearest convenience store to buy a magazine or ice cream. I have forgotten what it was like to enjoy convenience at your doorstep at a fraction of the price.
The best part, it brings you back to the most treasured memory you have never learnt to let go after all these years. You see your childhood elements all around. The familiar shop layouts, the friendly shopkeepers, childhood tidbits, toys, shoes... All seem much poorer in quality now but brings you the same level of joy. Dejavu contentment too, seeing innocent kids save on their pocket money for these treats, like you used to. Somehow... Kids from the new towns behave older than they are. They know only of malls, air conditioning, restaurants and everything else that spoils them crazy.
