So our apartment has a communal garden and you’re probably thinking ‘Natalie, you have a garden‘ but I don’t. It’s shared and therefore it’s not actually mine. I can’t do any gardening (PAH – even if I wanted to) and I can’t make it my own or spend my time outside reading my book in peace because the likelihood that someone is out there and will want to socialise is pretty high. And no offence, I’m a sociable person but I also highly love my own, personal space. So do I miss having a garden? Er – yeah.
I Can’t Personalise It
As much as it’s a beautiful garden, there’s nothing that I can do with it and that’s a disappointment because I’d definitely plant more beautiful flowers if I had the chance. Also, I can’t stop watching Mrs Hinch and now I want decking with ropes and paracord. I also want an outdoor sofa with a fire pit – the works basically. I think that’s what I’m looking forward to after me and Sam get married. Our plan is to move out that year or the following and into a big home that has ideally four bedrooms. At that point, it’s going to be our family home and so I can’t wait to personalise it. I’m itching to have it already so that’s probably why I’m missing the outdoor aspect of our home so much.
No Privacy
The main issue with having a communal garden and not a private one is that there’s no privacy. As much as I enjoy living in our apartment and being in a gated, secure development, I don’t like the fact that we don’t have our own garden. As I said, I can’t just go out and read my book in peace and I don’t really want to roam around in my bikini over the summer. Although saying that I was sharing a pool area just recently in my bikini with loads of other people, so is it the same thing? Either way, I don’t have a pool and I don’t have a private garden, which sucks.
The same goes for me and Sam when it comes to privacy on our own. I’d like to be able to put garden furniture out there for BBQ’s but that’s obviously not allowed. So if we had children, we wouldn’t be able to have any climbing frames or toys out there or that could stay out there permanently. Even though it’s probably a small thing in the grand scheme of things, it’s still something that’s significant and wouldn’t be a problem if we had our own private garden.
There’s No Quick Access
The other slight issue with the garden is that because we’re on the top floor, it takes us 30 seconds to get downstairs. It’s not the same as it being right on your back doorstep, so it spoils that feeling of even having a garden. It also means that if we were to ever get a dog in this apartment, it would mean we have to walk them down instead of just quickly letting them out. And if they’re desperate, they may not make it to the back door!
I’m Not Getting Outdoors Enough
Being in an apartment this beautiful is great but I am starting to feel a little restricted and I think as a couple, we’re not getting outdoors enough and I think that’s definitely important for our health. With having a private garden space, I think I could see myself working as a freelancer over the summer in the outdoors and what better way to do that than in my own garden.
Do you have your own garden? Let me know something about your own outdoor living in the comments below.
