Maximal living, minimal regrets

As the years go by, one eventually discovers that that which you might have envisioned for many years but managed to keep at bay, suddenly presents itself as a very real, albeit a dreaded phenomenon: your world is shrinking.


The Olympia house: 1981

When young, you challenged the world and its wife. You could move mountains, you were energetic and robust, innovative and enterprising. This, however, would not last.

In 1981 we moved into our newly-built home in Olympia, Windhoek, when a long-awaited dream came true: We were fortunate enough to have obtained the very last erf from the Nictus company before they finally closed their real estate department. Our building site was 1 200 ㎡ and was bought for slightly more than R4 000. A 4-bedroom house, including separate dining and sitting rooms, a TV-room, kitchen with a scullery and a study, was erected at a cost of R78 000,00. That was only the beginning, there was no garden, no washing line, no garden shed, only barren ground, soil and rock.

This was the challenge that appealed to us. We were determined to tame the shrew. As the months and years ticked over, flower beds took on shape by using hose pipe to form the initial winding curves of the boundaries. A separate rose garden bloomed, and colourful flowers destined for vases contributed to a scenic picture of lushness.
Meanwhile a figure-eight fishpond was built sporting a fancy fountain pump, adding to our tranquillity.


In time we went bigger – 300 ㎡ of adjoining land was obtained from the municipality for R11 000,00 and a double-storey, 2-bedroom flat arose. In 1983 our first swimming pool was installed, followed by a lapa under a thatched roof.

Eventually retirement came. The day we left our haven it boasted a paved backyard from side to side, under a huge shady Tipuana (rosewood) tree, a large cascading water fountain and two smaller ones. The 20-metre distance from the front door to the large wagon wheel-shaped front gate was covered with roman cobble stones, flanked with lawn. In the centre of the large flower-and-shrub bed stood a 2,5-metre-tall streetlight that bathed the surrounding garden in a soft light. Adding to the ambiance was the soft murmur of falling water from three fountains. In the green oval-shaped bird house, the Queen of Wales parakeets would settle in for the night.

Looking back now, I know that you can maximalize your life as long as you believe that where there is a will, there is a way!



Pictures above: The Olympia house: Up to 1998


Nickey van Zyl