“Did you know that Jennifer is driving to the North Pole?”
A look combining fear and sadness contorts my father’s face, “Oh no…” trailing off, he looks as if he’s just been told I was diagnosed with a terrible illness.
“I’m not driving to the North Pole, Mom, I’m driving to the Arctic Circle.”
“I don’t think you know what you’re getting into,” my father protests, “You’re not street smart.”
We are celebrating Thanksgiving in what has been not-so-jokingly referred to as The Family Homeless Shelter. Originally purchased as a ‘flip house’ by my youngest brother, Josh, to help my brother Joel weather a professional and financial crisis, the $58,000 foreclosure has turned into an impromptu living and gathering space for the family.
Joel moved in first. He was quickly followed by my parents, who wanted a temporary residence near their grandchildren. Next was my sister Jeanne, a single parent who recently lost her CEO position for the American operations of a luxury European brand, and who is trying to cut costs as she supports two daughters in private colleges. Last will be my sister Joey, who is moving in to partner with Jeanne on a new business venture.
Stuffed with fine furniture from previous residences, the run down house is now an ironic mix of excess and simplicity.
But over the Thanksgiving holiday, instead of gathering at the nearby McMansions of three of my brothers, we find ourselves each evening drawn to this junky little house. After some discussion, we realize it reminds us all of our childhood home.
“Why are you moving into a motorhome and driving to the Arctic Circle?” my brother Josh asks.
“It is sort an exercise in simplicity for me. I feel like I got too obsessed with my clothes, my house, my materialism. I got really depressed.”
He nods and I am surprised to see that my sentiment might be more shared than shocking.
“You know, we are thinking about doing that too,” my brother interjects. He and his wife live in a 6,000 square foot home and they arrived in an automobile that cost more than the house we were sitting in.
“So you’re moving in the Family Homeless Shelter next?” Joel jokes, “Looks like we need to finish out the garage.”
We laughed. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and a wonderful visit. I realized what I’d feared might be perceived as my break from reality was actually being heard by sympathetic ears.
So, I’ve returned to Austin and am excited to get back to work.
I heard from my roofer and here are my cost options to remove/replace the existing 3-tab roof:
- removal only of roof from house and garage: $700
- removal and install of roof on house: $1,600
- removal and install of roof on house and garage: $2,400
I’ve decided to go with option two, so will be spending $1,600 on the roof, plus one more day’s worth of work from my brother Joel.
So, an updated expense list:
$700 First payment to Joel $250 Materials (first trip) $600 Second payment to Joel $220 Materials (second trip;updated) $200 Third payment to Joel (estimate) $100 Materials (third trip; estimate) $1,600 roof $250 landscaping plants $3,920 TotalAfter that, remaining tasks will just be clean up and simple aesthetics. Once I am done, I will have my real estate agent come take a look!
On a final note, I’ve decided to try to be a little less obsessed with my blog, so may be updating about five times a week, instead of every day.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
***
Countup: 7 days without wine!
Countdown: 151 days until I move into my RV!
8 Comments
It’s so nice to hear from you! I’m glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving with your family. Sounds like it went well and that you all had some good laughs.
The “Family Homeless Shelter” sounds interesting! At least your family is smart/kind enough to pull together during tough times to make it work. Nothing wrong with having an ace card in hand!
It sounds like the cost of the roof won’t be too terrible. Although I understand any money put out for house maintenance is never satisfying. I bet you will be glad when all of that is done and behind you. It’s good to hear that you have it all figured out.
I understand about “obsessing” over the blog. It can be very difficult and stressful to HAVE to come up with something to write about each and everyday. Especially when you know your fan club is waiting patiently to see what you are going to post next. I’ll still be an avid reader/follower of your blog regardless how often you decide to update. I say only blog when you have something you want to share. That’s what blogging is all about! That way you don’t have to rack your brain to try and think of something to write about. It should come naturally to you. I hope you will be able to become “less obsessed” with the blog and enjoy blogging vs. stressing about it.
Have a wonderful day! Its VERY windy/chilly/damp over here. We put up our neighbors canopy for her that she just purchased and well……the wind blew it into the farmers barbed wire fence last night. Ripped and bent all to hell. Oops! So much for “surprising her” when she returns from her Florida trip tomorrow. Its still really windy so I can’t exactly go out there and retrieve the damn thing. Its heavy and huge! So instead I’ll just sit here in my cozy/warm RV, drink my coffee, and watch this poor tattered China made canopy flap in the wind. At least the barbed wire fence is holding it in place until I can deal with it!
As a great cartoon character often says, “Good Grief”!
I enjoyed this post.
Nothing shows just how dysfunctional your family is quite like the holidays. I’m always amused by people who think their family is more dysfunctional than the rest. My wife SWORE her family was completely bonkers, and while I am inclined to agree, I can’t because mine is just as bad as hers.
Lucky for us, we spent it camping with her father and the step mom stayed at home. This was, of course, after the regular turkey and house full of people we only see once or twice a year, depending on the occasion.
I’m glad you’re back. From the sound of it, you’re also doing quite a bit better. Good job.
hey jennifer, glad you had a good holiday.
we had thanksgiving here in canada in october, we missed being with the family, my family is not supportive of my decision at all.
so we had it just me and my son.
it was a little sad, but it is what it is.
keep up the blog!!
Dear Angie, That story about the canopy is terrible! Where you able to retrieve it? I just retold that story to my husband. With regard to my obsessing, the problem is more that I want to do nothing except think about the blog! It was like I was living in my computer with my new blog friends and withdrawing from everything/one else… (My panic and angst are other issues…; )
Dear Wade, Thank you so much. I wondered about you guys on your camping trip. I agree on the dysfunction stuff. It seems to me that we are *all* living pretty imperfectly in the world!
Thanks,
Jennifer
Dear Karyn,
Looks like we were posting at the same time. I am sorry to hear about your family. I wouldn’t say my family is 100% behind me, but I’ve figured out that starting with the simplicity thing works better than just the RV plan…
Jennifer
So glad to hear you had a lovely holiday. Your supportive siblings are a blessing (not everyone’s brother will work on their house!). I’ll enjoy your blog whenever you have time, but only if it’s good for you. I have the perfectionism thingy too, so just know you’re not the Lone Ranger. Although you may feel wimpy, you seem very brave to me and that gives me courage too. It’s energizing to focus on a goal and actualize a dream isn’t it? I had all but decided on a Class C (with a scooter) for easy handling (but worry about it being too small). Now you’ve got me considering whether I might be able handle a Class A. The luxury/cost equation also keeps me wondering about a 5ver, though I wouldn’t relish dealing with it in bad weather. Found a nice blog about by a solo woman RVing (normal vs the ‘living in the van to get out of debt sort) … perhaps you’ll enjoy it http://crusinsusan.blogspot.com
RE: That story about the canopy is terrible! Where you able to retrieve it?
It is still hung up on the farmers barbed wire fence!
It was far too cold/windy to even attempt to retrieve it yesterday. Not to mention we have to somehow get on the other side of this fence to get it. Jumping a barbed wire fence? Oh boy – this could be interesting. I see the farmer let his cows out in this field today. They are looking at this jumbled heap wondering what on earth landed in their territory! I hope they don’t start chewing on it! Oh dear!
Well our neighbor returns home tonight from Florida. I think the best bet is to just leave it be and ask her what she wants done with it. Obviously its ruined but perhaps she wants parts of it? I doubt it but I don’t want to make that call. And I’d wrestle it off the farmers fence but if that nasty wind comes back today then that canopy kite will take off on me once again. *sigh* Mother Nature makes ya giggle sometimes. All Jason and I could do was laugh. Actually we laughed all day long each time we looked out of our window. It does look silly all tangled up out there.
So much for the four hours we spent on Thanksgiving Day putting it up. Grrr.
Dear GypsySoul, Class C with a scooter was my original plan. I recommend renting one to test it out. It felt a bit too cramped for me after a few days. That is a GREAT blog! How do you find these?
Dear Angie, I’m glad you got a laugh out of it. Make sure you include those photos in your next update. ; )
Jennifer
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