I do not know of any project that takes more patience, flexibility and ultimately – humor than remodeling an old house!
It’s been a while since my last Blog entry. My husband and I were busy finding a new home. First, we made a serious effort to leave the desert of southern NM and to settle in cool Oregon. For various reasons, however, we had to change our plans. Instead of moving to another state, we bought an old farmhouse here in Deming, NM.
It is - how real estate agents like to put it – a “project home.” Actually, it is a huge project!
The brick walls and the roof are in great shape. It also came with a nice kitchen with wooden cabinets. The tiled floors are okay, too. But other than that, almost everything else has to be replaced: The waterlines, the sewer lines, the insulation, the interior walls, every window, every exterior and interior door, the wooden floors, the bathroom, etc.
My husband with his extensive background as a contractor rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. He has a clear idea about each step, each task, the tools needed, and, moreover, the time it will take.
I, on the other side, have never put my time into a project like this. Despite best intentions to stay calm, impatience and the desire to get things done ASAP easily surface.
The other day, I was sanding the old claw foot bathtub to remove the paint. I did not want to use the highly toxic paint stripper and thought I’d be okay with the slow process of sanding. I made an interesting discovery: The less patient I was, the less paint the sander seemed to be able to remove! But when I let go of any expectation and settled into the gliding motion of the vibrating tool in my hand, I could see the tiny specks of old paint disappearing.
Similarly, I needed to remove old fencing material with which the previous owners had set apart a kind of “garden.” I had planned to be finished within half a day. Instead, it took two days. First I got mad with the relentless sun that made working outside (even at the end of September) almost impossible. Then I surrendered and began to enjoy the tug-of-war between me and the fiercely anchored wire fence. It felt good to use muscles of which I did not even know that they existed!
There are so many opportunities to let go - of a schedule, of an idea, of a plan.
Meanwhile it is fun to change plans on an almost daily basis.
Well, tomorrow I want to get back to my sander. But maybe I need to help my husband “fishing” the new waterline under the house, or cutting the last piece of plywood for the bathroom floor.
Who knows?
Remodeling a house also provides many opportunities to develop new skills.
Next weekend, I would like to fill the post holes for the fence with cement. I have never mixed cement and worked with it. I am curious and looking forward to a new experience. And I am planning on staying calm in case I should not be able to get all the holes filled on one day.
But who knows?
Maybe I get impatient again.
It's a roller coaster ride. It's a reflection of life.
