I realize I haven't said much about one of the most historically significant events of our times: the 2020 pandemic which is transitioning out in this country right now. This is how the pandemic affected me.
In October 2019, we moved into our 468 sq ft garage apartment for the 13-month renovation that we had waited 25 years to begin. I had spent the better part of the previous three years purging, planning and preparing. And buying. Jesus I had to buy a ton of stuff. I found a company to do our drawings and then, picked a construction company to execute the plan. This was a simple and not so simple project. The footprint would not grow significantly (from 1600 sq ft to only 1690 sq ft) but our 100-yr old bungalow would need:
- to have the back porch (bedroom/bathroom) and laundry room ripped off and rebuilt
- to have the abestos shingles in the back removed by an abatement company
- to have them replaced with cement shingles
- the roof and attic rebuilt and extended
- all ceilings returned to their original 10 ft height
- the knob and tube electrical system completely replaced
- a central air conditioning system installed (for the first time–hallelujah!)
- all the plumbing ripped out and replaced
- a tankless water heater installed
- all the thin drywall ripped out and replaced with 1/2" board
- a new primary bathroom
- a new primary bedroom
- the guest bathroom completely overhauled
- the kitchen completely redesigned
- a mudroom and laundry room built and
- ceramic tile installed in these rooms, the kitchen and both bathrooms.
- new hardwood floors installed in the primary bedroom/closet and
- hardwood floors refinished everywhere else.
- 16 double hung windows replaced/installed (to meet code).
- insulation added under the house, in the new areas and added to attic
- to be raised 16 inches (we live in a flood-prone city)
- the space under the house graded to prevent standing water
- the porch completely rebuilt, along with the pillars that held up the roof
- custom cabinets/storage created and installed by a master carpenter
- new side and back entrances created and respective porches built
- me to make 4,000 decisions, give or take.
We were incredibly grateful for the garage apartment, tiny as it was, because while we lost the rental income it provided, that amount would never have covered the cost of renting an apartment anywhere nearby. Besides, we only needed to be there in the evenings, right? Most weekends we'd be working outside on something house-related. Most days we'd be at our respective workplaces.
In December, we flew to the Netherlands to witness the birth of our one and only grandchild. It was amazing and joyous. We returned home the first week of January. And well, you know the rest. Two months later the world shut down. And there we were in this postage stamp apartment. Still grateful. Still employed. Still so grateful.
But that space was tight! It is a testament to how easy the Saint is to live with and how compatible we are. We were rarely much further than 6' away from each other. When we had simultaneous Zoom meetings, one of us moved to the only other room in the apartment with a door: the bathroom. The kitchen was impossible to cook in. And I was used to having what I thought was a totally shit tiny kitchen. We did work on the weekends in the garage. So many projects. I created a mosaic backsplash for the kitchen, we stripped miles of old molding to be repurposed. Ditto old doors.
For the next six months, we maneuvered around the little space. Adjusting to the size and trouble-shooting the endless renovation questions and decisions. So many decisions. We continued to work remotely every weekday from our little desks and had countless video meetings. By December of 2020, the house was done and I gave notice that I was retiring. I was planning on retiring in March of 2021 but my leadership had been five years of increasing terrible; I was miserable and done. January 15, 2021 was my last day at work. Just over six months have elapsed and I haven't looked back. I do miss the people on my team but, honestly, I haven't thought about work at all.
After retiring I had three months to unpack the house and organize the spaces. This, constant reader, is not my super power. Historically these kinds of projects make me want to pull the covers over my head. I am usually overwhelmed and teary at the thought. But not this time. I looked at the mountains of bins and piles of boxes and figured out a strategy like a general mounting a tactical offensive. With an army of one. All previously purged categories needed to be re-purged. There were items organized that I pulled apart and reorganized. There were tons of things that went to charity, friends and in the trash. It was a massive challenge and I am not going to be modest–I climbed that fucking mountain, planted my flag and crowed.
At the end of the three months, my mom, two of my sisters and my sister-in-law came to visit. The house was clean, organized and brand-spanking new. My family was amazed.
Note: Even though they knew I was a designer, my family had seen me live in this old house for 25 years without making major changes so they may have had their doubts about what I could do, which is fair enough. My mom and sisters are constantly making upgrades and changing their homes. And they are all lovely homes. I am possessed of a need to do things right or not do them at all. Can't explain why. When I finally accomplish something, I make sure I can get what I really want and not compromise too much. And I did.
Of course, the fact that my spouse didn't care one iota about the design part meant that I got to do whatever I wanted. Holy shit, I'm spoiled.
Early in the year St Barbara had been vaccinated at work. I was vaccinated and "safe" about 10 days before my family arrived. Since then, the U.S. has begun to open. After 600,000 people died. It will be a long time before we'll be able to absorb the tragedy of this pandemic and the political upheaval that coincided/contributed to it.
My family is all vaccinated except for my youngest in the Netherlands, who is set to receive her first shot in July. That will be a wonderful day, when she is safe. Next month we travel to Portland to reunite with our son and his wife. In October, we fly to Amsterdam and see our youngest and our grandchild who we last saw at birth, 22 months earlier. These will be joyous reunions.
While the pandemic created a lot of stress, ultimately I was made for this kind of isolation. For the most part, I love, love, love being at home. Being able to work and play with the Saint every day and not having to go to social events I was not interested in was a huge relief. The best excuse not to socialize. While I got a little too isolated once or twice, mostly, I relished the privacy and time. And it segued into retirement like a dream. I have soaked and steeped in alone time. I have designed and planned and schemed new projects. I have sewed and knitted and written. I have cooked in this insanely wonderful kitchen. I have spent time with a small number of close friends.
Between the pandemic and retirement I have learned to protect my privacy. I have dropped obligations and made decisions about how I want to spend my precious time. My sense of bliss is unprecedented and pervasive.
No comments:
Post a Comment