So far, Bavarian squirrels have been viewed primarily from two aspects: how cute they appear – and how difficult it is for outsiders to name their bushy squirrels in dialect without any accidents. It is less known that they can also be used as alarm clocks. All you have to do is lay out nuts on the balcony and wait. Soon the clever little animals will adapt their routine and loudly eat breakfast under the bedroom window.
There’s hardly a nicer way to wake up in Bavaria’s big cities than with squirrels nibbling in your ear. But unfortunately it’s hardly cheaper either. Because even if you wanted to leave your balcony and squirrels behind, there is less and less room for other living dreams, thanks to rising rents and a lack of apartments. “The demand on the rental market currently significantly exceeds the existing supply in many large and medium-sized cities,” the German South Real Estate Association recently stated. And: “Despite the rapidly increasing need for living space, there is currently a massive decline in construction activity.” Builders are waiting too much for a change in times; approvals for new apartments have fallen far short of expectations.
This means: If you really want to bet on an end to the housing shortage, you shouldn’t risk high stakes. There is a great risk that you will end up with even more money for housing. Because despite all the political promises, instead of easing the situation, there is a risk of further tension. Many people feel very stressed in this regard anyway. And the ideas on how the misery could be countered seem to have had little effect so far. According to the state government, life is better in Bavaria – as long as you don’t change, don’t smoke weed and don’t eat vegan. However, it is rarely said that there will soon no longer be enough money for grass and greens anyway.
On the other hand, the dream of having your own squirrel is a cheap – and politically unsuspicious – pleasure that makes life noticeably better for a moment. Between six and half past six, the first scraping and gnawing sounds can be heard from outside, soon followed by a loud cracking sound. The little alarm clocks just have to learn the difference between working days and weekends.