There's also a Whatsapp group which was created so that the folks can just chat and moan about being stuck in the room, or give each other ideas on what to order for food, or some people chat about their lives and all that kinda stuff. It helps to pass time cos there's someone else to chat with.
One thing is, that most folks who's coming to Singapore during this period who's on quarantine, they are mainly post grad students who are coming home, or Western expats, and the thing is, their world is really very different from mine.
They don't mind spending money. Now, I don't know if there are representative of other Singaporeans. Cos I know there are many Singaporeans who love to spend money.
For example, someone might order in 2 slices of Awfully chocolate cake with the delivery charge probably the cost of another slice. It's not particularly unaffordable, but yet, to me, it's pricey. Total cost could be $7 per slice and $5 for delivery, so it could be $19 for 2 slices of chocolate cake or tart.
Or they order wine or other forms of booze from the hotel, also not particularly unaffordable. $14 per glass, which is typical restaurant prices. But it's not cheap.
In the chat group, they will also plan purchases of alcohol when they leave quarantine. Recently Hyatt hotel seems to have some discount on champagne, so they buy 6 bottles or 12 bottles to be sent to their homes, which could easily cost them $600 or $1100.
Or they could show pictures of restaurants which they go to after quarantine, most of which are fancy places, many which I haven't even heard of. A place they sent was this 1880 club, which is some "by membership" club with a restaurant.
And the thing is... I cannot relate to these folks.
I've deleted my Facebook app for sometime already so I haven't checked my Facebook for very long as well. Also, over there, I find it hard to relate to the people on my social media.
I'm not particularly freegan in America. I spend money. Very much like my frugal life before my freegan days in Singapore.
But the things I purchase is way way way different from the kinds of things I see on social media or the bulk of society at large.
Which leads me to conclude, that... actually my lifestyle is extremely abnormal.
We don't particularly buy stuff, we don't eat out much, except when I'm back in SG, cos I wanna eat all the stuff I miss before I go back to US. But when I'm in US, we cook at home most of the time.
We don't go around looking for the next fun thing to do, the next thrill, next new experience, etc.
I think I'm really living in a different world. Cos... I think "they" are living in the real world. "That" is the normal, a life of consumption, when there's money, spend, earn more, spend more, earn less spend less.
I've lived my way for a bulk of my life. I think it's normal.
I hang around folks who are somewhat like me, not as frugal, but also not spendy.
And during this course of hanging around my own social circle, I fail to realize, recognize that actually, there are more of "them" than there are of folks like me. A lot more.
There are plenty of folks who don't think twice when buying stuff. They don't think twice when they enter a restaurant, they order whatever they want. They order delivery anytime. Price is not a concern. Even kids these days don't think twice about ordering delivery for a bubble tea.
Or... There's lot of folks who smoke, I mean... Imagine dropping $10 per pack if you're low income.
Now, of course, their money, their decisions. Not my problem.
Can't expect people to live like me.
Just that. I think I've been deluded most of my life, thinking that people are rational. Or at least somewhat prudent or think a bit more about their spending.
But I'm severely wrong.
Most people don't have a cause an effect relationship with their money.
People don't think, I've worked so long to earn X amount, should I spend it on this or that?
People don't think, if I spend it now, I don't get to spend it in future.
So yes... I think I'm living in the wrong world.
My world is not the correct one.
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