Luxury is just not about wealth.
I have lived my life divided between two countries, India and Oman, which is a part of the Middle East. Though geographically and culturally different, I have found that both places offer a life of great comfort, provided you have a decent and stable income.
Living in these two countries has shaped my understanding of what convenience truly means. It is only when I travel to other countries that I realize how different lifestyles can be, and how much we take for granted back home.
The most striking feature of life in both India and Oman is the ease of getting help. Almost everything comes to our doorstep. This culture of service is highly efficient in our daily lives. In India, the level of doorstep goes to the next level. Even the bank comes to our home. For senior citizens and busy professionals, bank representatives will visit to collect documents, open accounts, or provide assistance. We rarely need to stand in long queues or wait for long time for basic services. The same applies to almost every other need. From groceries, medicines to food and laundry, a single phone call is enough. If you have a breakdown at home, whether it is a plumbing, electrical or air conditioner problem, or a problem with the car, or anything, one can get immediate help at home. This convenience of readily available and not to miss affordable help makes life very smooth and stress-free.
Oman offers a similar lifestyle, though slightly different, kind of comfort. Housing here is spacious, the roads are excellent, and essential services are easily accessible. At almost every 100 meters we can find a supermarket. Here too, most things can be delivered to our home. People are ready to help here. When I shifted here, I had major concern about convenience, and it took me some time to figure out everything, till then I did face some level of discomfort, but after that it has been all easy and peaceful.
When I travel to countries in Europe and or Far East, I see a big difference. People there are largely self-reliant, which is admirable, but it also means that convenience comes at a high price. If there is a breakdown at home of anything, you may have to wait for days for an appointment, and the service charges are very high. You are often expected to do many things yourself. Labor is expensive, so people learn to manage on their own. House help is not easy and it is very expensive. Back in India and Oman I have a full-time house help, and a cook. But the same I cannot think of in other parts of the world as the expense would rip me off.
In contrast, in India and Oman, affordable and immediate help is always available. Luxury is not just about wealth, but about the ease, help, and peace of mind that surrounds our daily life.
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Lo del banco yendo a tu casa en India me voló la cabeza, acá en Argentina eso sería impensable. ¿Ese nivel de servicio puerta a puerta también existe en Oman o es más bien cosa de la India?
Ese contraste que hacés entre el banco que va a tu casa en India y los días de espera para un técnico en Europa es concreto y real. Acá on-chain vemos eficiencia en liquidación, pero en el mundo físico el costo del trabajo sigue siendo el verdadero filtro. ¿En Omán el delivery también aplica para servicios técnicos o solo para compras?
Qué interesante el detalle del banco que va a tu casa en India para trámites de adultos mayores; acá en Paraguay eso suena a ciencia ficción. La lección que deja es que lo que en Europa se llama "self-reliance" muchas veces es simple mano de obra carísima que te obliga a hacer de plomero un domingo.