I have to learn those Zen thoughts. Too many inconsequential things are making my blood pressure way too high. I have to remember that if it can be fixed with some money, it is not a problem worth my health.
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I have to learn those Zen thoughts. Too many inconsequential things are making my blood pressure way too high. I have to remember that if it can be fixed with some money, it is not a problem worth my health.
How does the condo factor into the equation--could you sell the Saint Louis place immediately for a big profit without doing anything, and concontrate on the other two properties that you are fixing?
Yes to Being able to sell my city house immediately. As for “big profit” that’s impossible to calculate and it doesn’t much matter. We paid $28,000 for it. We could get $400,000 (sez our real estate friend, tho I doubt it.) But the profit is impossible to calculate since it was a gut rehab and we no longer have those records of construction costs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybee
But then I would have no place to live because that condo is tiny and it does not replace my city house. I will not uproot my life prematurely And cause myself pain simply because DH has decided he’s going to hover over every process of Hermann renovation.
As I see it, this is dumb use of his time, but he can do what he wants to do with his life. There is legitimate work of high value that only he can do, and he doesnt recognize that! As I sit here I am inches away from the nice cabinetry he made for our city living room. I’m looking at the fluting of the trim boards—lovely! I’m looking at the crown molding here and as I’ve mentioned before he is the crown molding king.
But he seems to have a problem in identifying high value work versus grunt work versus semi-skilled work such as painting. And then there is scarcity. We can get a painter to paint an entire house. No one can get a painter to paint a closet, so that is the kind of small jobs he will have to do.
And then as a for instance, several weeks ago he was out back of our Herman house trying to break up a huge piece of concrete to get ready for construction. He’s a 65-year-old man and he’s doing this kind of grunt work that is hard on his body when a machine will come by to do it later. Meanwhile, there’s tons of semi-skilled work he could be doing in the yard, the kind of stuff that will be nearly impossible to hire done such as setting limestone rocks in walls and repairing same. He’s good at that work and it’s hard to find someone who knows anything about doing it.
Fortunately, he seems to respect our contractor and DH is working along side of the contractor’s crew, cleaning out rooms, tearing out a ceiling when needed, scurrying down to the hardware store to buy hardware. I do think he’s having some fun doing that and I don’t want to take that fun away from him.
It sounds like he really wants to a) do something he enjoys and b) leave his imprint on all the houses. If he is volunteering and you're not making him do it, I think you are right to just let him be. It's a hobby. Some people take up quilting, your DH makes homes look beautiful.
My DH frequently does things in a manner that I don't necessarily think are the right way to go. But these days, I am working and he is not, and even though I don't really want a spice rack tacked on to the other side of the Dutch door, I let it go. It makes him feel useful, and also, it makes the house more functional for things he thinks are important, and he's on the deed, so he gets a say in the matter whether I like it or not.
DH *IS*Pretty picky about workmanship. He went through my condo and smoothed out all the plaster walls and it looks absolutely gorgeous. Those walls haven’t been touched in decades. But you know what? I didn’t mind the old bumpy plaster, it just didn’t bother me. I’m thrilled to have real plaster.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
I just want DH to have fun in this last part of his life because he deserves it, and we can afford whatever we’re doing.
As for that spice rack! Those battles aren’t worth fighting. But bless the heart of my DH, he has called twice in the past 48 hours to get my “OK “on a couple of things about finishes on this Hermann house. He knows, because it is our agreement, that I am determining all finishes. He’s the construction guy, I am the decorator lady.
Lucky you both to enjoy these interactions. Just saying...;)
Our Hermann house is torn apart and is barely habitable. It’s going to be like this for many months. Here are pictures of our current kitchen facility (microwave oven, and a refrigerator that also contains our silverware, dishes, and paper products) and bathroom.
DH roughs it when he’s here, but I will stay in the Bed and Breakfast Inn on our block So that I have shower facilities. Maybe DH will also use their shower. Otherwise he’s using the hose in the yard as a kind-of shower.
There are no work crew here today so I can use the bathroom with no fear of lack of privacy. But normally there’s a crew of 2 to 4 men here.
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Wow!
That is down to the 2x4s!!!! Nice to see the steps unfold.
Is it possible to just do a room at a time so you could live there? Why do it all at once?