At first glance, the goal seems like a place of passage. A small space from which someone opens the door, picks up packages, or greets neighbors. But it is enough to sit down for a few minutes to talk with Margarita Blanch to understand that there, in that apparently secondary point of the building, an essential part of urban life is concentrated. Because what happens in a building (the routines, the changes, the conflicts) happens, in one way or another, to those who observe it every day from the same place.
Margarita, at 55 years old, She has been a goalkeeper in Barcelona for 27 yearsspecifically in Eixample. He came to this job almost by chance, following in his parents’ footsteps, and ended up building an entire life around that job. In that time he has seen how grandparents disappeared, how offices replaced homes and how, little by little, tourism and new rental models transformed coexistence. He has also verified something that he clearly defends: when the goalkeeper disappears, not only is a service lost, but order, security and, in many cases, the balance of the entire community is lost.
A vocation that began out of curiosity
She has been a goalkeeper for 27 years. How did you start and what has made you stay so long?
I started almost out of curiosity. My parents were janitors in another building and the opportunity arose when the person who was here retired. I interviewed the owners and, at that moment, my husband and I decided to give it a try. We left our apartment and came to the goal, which was also in the center of Barcelona. We thought it would be something temporary, but little by little it gets you hooked: the neighborhood, the neighbors, the life you live here. Then you have children, they go to school in the area… and without realizing it, it’s your life.
In all this time, how has the profession changed?
It has changed a lot. When I started, there were a lot of older people and the treatment was very close: relatives calling to see if someone was okay, going up to check things… it was very personalized. Then the offices arrived, with more movement of people. And now the big change is tourist apartments, colivings and parcel delivery. Before we delivered letters by hand because there weren’t even mailboxes; today there are almost no cards, but you can have 15 or 20 packages in a single day.
What tasks does a goalkeeper actually do on a day-to-day basis?
Much more than people think. It’s not just opening the door. It means monitoring, maintaining order, cleaning, controlling access, coordinating repairs, managing incidents… If something breaks at dawn, you have to solve it. You are also aware of moving, ensuring that the common areas are not damaged, and notifying the administrator if something happens. And then there is the peace of mind you give: if someone has an empty apartment, they know that there is a person pending. That avoids a lot of problems.
Have you had to live through complicated situations?
Yes, everything. From attending to medical emergencies to entering homes with the police when someone has died. We have also had some attempted robberies or specific situations, such as a robbery of an elderly person at the goal. But it is not something constant, as is sometimes believed. They are isolated cases, although when they happen you have to manage them.
What role does the doorman play in conflicts between neighbors?
There are no conflicts on our farm, but in general the goalkeeper helps prevent them from escalating. Many times it is enough to intervene in time or make a warning. Today the problems tend to come more from tourist apartments or shared homes than from lifelong neighbors. Before the conflicts were more about noise or coexistence, now they are other types of situations.
Do you think the figure of the goalkeeper is being lost?
Yes, and it is very noticeable. When there is no doorman, the property deteriorates: dirt, disorder, lack of control. Security is also lost. Small things, like keeping the entrance clean or keeping an eye on who comes in, make a big difference. And then there is peace of mind for older neighbors or families with children. All that disappears.
Is this work well valued?
It depends a lot on the farm. There are low salaries, which barely exceed the minimum wage, and others that are higher if there are more services such as a garden or swimming pool. But in general we believe that it should be valued more, because it is physically hard work. Many people think that we do nothing, but it is quite the opposite: there is effort, wear and responsibility.
An unattractive job for young people
Why do you think young people are not attracted to this profession?
Because they see it as something unattractive, a closed, lonely job… It is true that it is not for everyone, but it also has advantages that are not valued.
What advantages would you highlight for a young person?
The main one is stability. It is a job for many years. But above all, if they offer you housing, it is a great opportunity. You do not pay rent, you have expenses covered such as water or electricity in many cases, and that allows you to save a lot. Nowadays, with how difficult it is to access housing, that is a huge advantage. There are people who have been in a goal for a few years, have saved and then have been able to buy their house.
So would I recommend it?
Yes, depending on the profile. If you are a calm, organized person and you like to work at your own pace, it is a good job. You manage it yourself, you don’t have anyone constantly on top of you and you can build a stable life. That is why it is an ideal job for young people to save because, in many cases, they do not have to pay rent.
After a lifetime of this, what are you left with?
With the satisfaction that everything works well, that the property is in order and that the neighbors are calm. In the end it is a service, but when you notice that they trust you and that everything is calm, that also compensates you.
The Vanguard.
GML
