Making choices
The process of acquiring a new home “by long distance” comes with certain frustrations. And, in balance, certain moments of excitement. Striking a balance is where the effort is required.
We’re heading towards the six month mark on our calendar. Six months since we actually signed a contract; the process started before that. Dreaming, and modifying the parameters, and dreaming some more. Since that long afternoon where we initialed the agreement and arranged for a first transfer of funds, the information has arrived in small morsels.
Today, another email. Actually the second in a week, but when tied together, I have confirmation that real progress has been made. We’re down to details: how many doors in the basement, and what finish on an exterior wall, and finding out that my mysterious lift pump could do double service if I decided to go beyond “dumping” and added in “showering”. Neat!
I learned that there is a whole area of outside material, referred to as “foam stone” which allows faking rocks on a wall. I hadn’t much thought about such things before this morning; now I’ll be absorbed. Lots of looking at catalogues that would have held no interest before now.
That’s what this house building adventure allows. Time spent making choices about things that are unfamiliar. I look back to the other time, thirty years ago, when we prepared our list for this house, and I wonder. Did I luck into what we have, or what? Thirty years without major aggravation, based on a total lack of experience. It could have gone much worse. This time around, I’ll be able to shoulder part of the blame if we don’t get what we thought we wanted.
