HUMOUR IN UNIFORM
HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY HOME
A Naval Yarn
He meticulously applied for a change of accommodation the moment he had spent the minimum mandatory period of six months in a house.
She always found some fault or the other with whichever house was allotted to him.
This story can be interpreted in the metaphorical sense - and the metaphor of“wife” can be something else which makes your home unhappy.
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HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY HOME
A Naval Yarn
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013 all rights reserved
Whenever I sit back and reflect over the timeline of my life and ask myself which were the best days of my life, there is only one answer – My Navy Days.
I will never forget those glorious Navy days – the best period in my life.
My early days in the Navy, in the 1970s and 1980s, were indeed the happiest days of my life - no doubt about it.
The Navy was an exciting place to be in.
Life was good and there was never a dull moment.
Something was always happening, and I came across a variety of unique personalities – yes, exciting situations and inimitable characters.
The Navy was an exciting place to be in.
Life was good and there was never a dull moment.
Something was always happening, and I came across a variety of unique personalities – yes, exciting situations and inimitable characters.
Young officers were expected to “Jack of all Trades and Master of One”.
Unlike most of our civilian counterparts we were not put into a professional straitjacket but encouraged to develop multifarious skills and “Officer Like Qualities” (OLQ) which resulted in a well-rounded personality.
Hence, during my career in the Navy I had to do a lot of “bum jobs” like Mess Secretary, Wine Secretary, Food Catering and Snack Bar Manager, Officer in Charge Poultry and Piggery, Officer in Charge of Dairy and Grow More Food Farms, Officer-in-Charge CSD Canteen, Sports Manager, Finance, Audit and Accounts (Accountant), Librarian, Event Manager and Organizer of all sorts of events ranging from Parties and Balls to Melas and Fleet Family Days.
These jobs were in addition to our professional work and we were expected to excel in both our professional and extra-curricular duties.
In the Navy, you have to do everything they tell you to do.
And by the way, you have to do it for free - you do not get paid for all the “bum jobs” you do.
These jobs were in addition to our professional work and we were expected to excel in both our professional and extra-curricular duties.
In the Navy, you have to do everything they tell you to do.
And by the way, you have to do it for free - you do not get paid for all the “bum jobs” you do.
On one such occasion I was a member of a Quartering Committee whose task was to allot houses and deal with all housing matters.
There was a rule that a you could ask for a change of house after you had lived in a particular house for six months.
In the Navy, there is a perpetual shortage of married accommodation, especially in big stations.
Owing to the acute shortage of accommodation, it took more than one year to be allotted your proper entitled accommodation.
A tenure in a station was about three years.
So most officers just stayed on in whatever house was allotted to them for the remaining two years till they were transferred out.
Only if there were very serious problems did someone ask for a change of house since relocating was quite a laborious and painful task.
Changing your house as like going on transfer and involved a lot of hassles like shifting your bag and baggage, disconnection and connection of electricity, cooking gas, informing one and all of the change of address, change of school bus for the kids and getting the house done up etc.
So everyone preferred to stay on in whichever house they were given till they were transferred out.
Changing your house as like going on transfer and involved a lot of hassles like shifting your bag and baggage, disconnection and connection of electricity, cooking gas, informing one and all of the change of address, change of school bus for the kids and getting the house done up etc.
So everyone preferred to stay on in whichever house they were given till they were transferred out.
My fellow naval officer “R” was different.
Actually he was so lucky to have been allotted a lovely sea facing flat on Marine Drive.
But the moment six months were over he applied for a change of accommodation.
But the moment six months were over he applied for a change of accommodation.
“Why?” I asked him, “You have the best place. It is near your office, your kids’ school bus picks them up from your doorstep, it is so well connected, and look at the fantastic location – the best in Mumbai…”
“My wife doesn’t like the house. She says there is too much noise from the traffic. She wants a change,” he said.
He was allotted a house in Malabar Hill – an independent bungalow.
Everyone said he was so lucky to get a huge mansion in a prime locality.
Everyone said he was so lucky to get a huge mansion in a prime locality.
After six months he again asked for a change of accommodation.
“Why?” I asked him, “Last time you changed because of the traffic noise. I am sure the bungalow must be quiet and peaceful.”
“That’s the problem. My wife is fed up of the silence and she complains that she feels too lonely. There are no neighbours, no friends.”
We gave him a house in a multi-storey apartment block in the main navy residential township where there would be plenty of neighbours and friends and all the facilities.
Six months later, he again applied for a change of house.
He told me that his wife said the place was too crowded and there was no privacy.
He told me that his wife said the place was too crowded and there was no privacy.
This went on and on, as his wife was never satisfied with any house.
When he applied for a change for the sixth time, I could not contain myself any longer, so I bluntly told him:
“Listen to me. Don’t bother changing your house every time. Instead of changing your house, just change your wife. With a good wife any house will be good and with a wife like yours, even the best house will be hell…”
“Listen to me. Don’t bother changing your house every time. Instead of changing your house, just change your wife. With a good wife any house will be good and with a wife like yours, even the best house will be hell…”
“R” was furious when he heard my suggestion.
He never talked to me after that.
But someone told me that he did heed my advice and now he never asks for a change of accommodation.
But someone told me that he did heed my advice and now he never asks for a change of accommodation.
Think about it, dear reader.
Harmony is the sine qua non for a happy and content life.
It is inner peace that matters.
If you want to enjoy music, even the best and most expensive music system is useless if your mind is disturbed.
But if you are at peace with yourself you can enjoy music even on a simple radio - like I enjoy those melodious oldie-goldies on Vividh Bharati on my simple cell-phone radio.
If you feel unhappy, frustrated or if you are not able to enjoy the feast of life to its fullest, you must introspect and get down to the root cause instead of short term peripheral quick-fix solutions.
The anecdote I related about the house may have been in a lighter vein, but it is profound in meaning:
If you don’t like your “home” just change your “wife”
If you don’t like your “home” just change your “wife”
HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY HOME
In the story above it was the wife who was the impediment in making the house a happy home.
Now that you know the secret of how to make your home a Happy Home.
Any House can be a Happy Home.
In case your house is not a happy home, all you have to do is find out the reason and eliminate or mitigate the root cause.
And, on a broader level, I have told you the sine qua non of how to enjoy the feast of life too.
Once you are in a state of inner peace you will be in harmony with yourself and even the smallest pleasures will make you happy.
On the contrary, if you are in a disturbed state of mind then even the greatest pleasures will not give you joy.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this book review.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013 all rights reserved
Did you like this story?
I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAILTo order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
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COCKTAIL ebook
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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