House Recovery Update

While I’ve been writing in the blog recently about my intention to “start as I mean to go on” by creating the small habits and being intentional of where I put my energy so I am living the life I want to live, right now there is just a focus on, “Get the house done!” Almost every day there has been something to decide, something to be aware of, something to catch that’s not quite right. 

I have mentioned that my House Mental Load list has over 60 items on it with only about 20 completed.  As we move through the finishing steps on the house, I’m feeling a bit frazzled with so many things to still be done!

• One day last week actually looked like this: A text and email message at 7:30 AM to make sure I paid the electric company invoice within the hour so we held our place in line for permanent electric connection. The electric company was giving out quotes anywhere from 3-6 weeks for permanent connection as so many houses are being built! A 7:45 AM realization that meant creating a completely new electric company account with a new customer number and creating answers to five (yes 5!) security questions, of which some possible ones were, “I don’t even know the answer to that!” An 8:30 conversation to confirm what color hardware on the interior doors, because oops, they sent half the doors with black hinges and that was not what we wanted A 10:15 conversation to align on ordering the garage (car) doors because the two bids were thousands of dollars different and we needed to agree to the lower bid. That conversation included the information that install was also 3 weeks out, not the 5-7 days expected. A noon conversation informing us about the sewer line digging now behind a day, but should not impact full schedule. Also told the balcony ceilings are 2 days behind, but they “might work on Saturday to catch up” (which has now turned into “maybe it will be done next week”). Midafternoon, I realized I forgot to confirm guest bathroom paint color; hubby thinks room feels dark now that tile is in, so looking to lighten paint color. That afternoon, called to pay for the front door; it should have been paid before delivery and the door’s been installed! (I don’t want any sub-contractors to get bad vibes with our project. There’s still more to do.) And then, follow-up with landscaper as we have not gotten a quote yet on work discussed.
• Other craziness of the week included a realization that the master bath door ended up being too narrow when they started to do door framing. We had said from the beginning that we wanted the house to be age-in-place, so doorways need to be large enough for a mobility walker. (A fix is planned.) Then the footprint layout of the exterior staircase looked horrible; it was hard to imagine how big a staircase needs to be for 15’ of elevation. I was very upset seeing the footprint laid out, but luckily, our builder was open to a re-design –a delay on timing and added cost, but I really did hate the footprint layout. Then we also re-thought which way one of the external doors should swing; again, it was hard to envision until you’re in the actual space and seeing the door swing. I did change the bathroom paint color choice to a lighter color; no impact as paint had not been purchased, just communication. We also talked about the gutter size and where the rain chains would be re-used (saved from previous house); then talked gutter size again when the cost came in! We went over pavers layout to confirm the amount to buy (a non-returnable item) and site grading. We also had a conversation about the interior stair rail, what’s needed for code and how to make that look ok, and what the spindle look will be. We stopped to order additional ceiling fans (outdoor ones) as I realized that they would be installed with final trim work if we had them on site! Whew, that was a day! I’m supposed to be retired, right?
• I worry about everything coming together aesthetically (look & color): the granite match to the cabinet color and tile, the various pieces of furniture we have purchased coming together, the paver color and exterior stairs match to the house, and even if the re-used items from the old house will look okay with the new house color pallet/design. 
• I’ve taken on finding the subcontractor for the epoxy flooring as my builder is swamped juggling all of the bits and pieces to get the house done, keeping things on track as different pieces shift or are not completed as desired, and keeping us informed, and me calm. So I’m now researching what is needed, calculating areas, setting up appointments, and working through costs and timings.
• Each (very early) morning, I wake up either planning the garden or the move in my head.  The garden thinking is usually about which plants in which beds, what will we plant immediately versus over time, will the saved fence be able to be reused, and even second guessing the type of sod chosen. The move thinking is about when will we buy storage items (closet organizers, bookcases); when to schedule deliveries; how to coordinate moving over the apartment stuff and unloading the storage unit; and why did I not write down who offered to help!
• I worry about missing scheduling something I’m supposed to schedule, which will then cause a delay in completion.

As I write this, we are on track to be in the house by end of October. In, but not settled! There’s a long list of items already for after “certificate of occupancy”. The first thing on that list probably is getting closet organizers and bookcases! It will be challenging to unpack all our unlabeled boxes without some place to put things! Some other items are being purposefully left for later (water filtration system, solar panel re-install), so we can get into the house by the end of October.It will be wonderful to be in our own home again, even if it is chaotic for another month (or two).

This blog post is probably more than anyone cares to know!  But my blog has become more a diary of my life and this level of mental load is something to remember later on, when it’s all over. I hope I remember to celebrate working through it – the delays, the issues, the mistakes, the stupidities, the decisions, the details, the ways to watch costs, and the choices to lean in on spending.

We just passed the two-year mark of the first of the two hurricanes that impacted us (September 26^th). Hurricane Helene brought the severely damaging high flood waters and then 2 weeks later Hurricane Milton brought the winds that tore apart the roof. It’s been a long road to recovery, both emotionally and physically. But now, we will be starting a new chapter in our retirement life… living 15 feet in the air, a different community feel, and both of us being a bit different than we were 2 years ago.

Picture: The base framework of the kitchen cabinets being put in this week! Interior trim work and exterior grading done as well, but not very exciting pictures.

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