8.31.2008
8.27.2008
West Coast Adventure
It has been more than 15 years since I last ventured to the West Coast of the island. I was pining for it for a while and this Tuesday I got a full experience! It was an absolutely perfect adventure.
I was promised a trip out to this project (a new school) by my boss and this was the last chance I would get for a while, I leapt at the chance even though the weather forecast was grim.
My alarm went off at 4:30 am, and I got to my boss's house by 5:15 am. A quick coffee and we were on the road to Tofino... (we had to be there by 9:00 to catch the float plane out to the tiny First Nations Village of Hesquiaht).
The weatherman was fantastically wrong and the waters were calm and only a light fog blurred the outlines of the shore. The plane we wanted to catch was full, (they only fit max 3 passengers) so we had an extra 1/2 hour and had a yummy ranchero burrito for breakfast.
The flight up the coast was stunning! Emerald green forest as far as the eye could see rimmed with a rugged rocky coastline punctuated by hidden coves of pristine sandy beaches!!! I got to sit in the co-pilot seat, and I was gobsmacked the entire flight taking dozens of photos with my face pressed unceremoniously against the tiny windows. The landing was flawless and it really just solidified my LOVE of float planes.
The tiny village is stuck onto the hillside in a deep cove. Typical assembly of ugly box houses with no yard, steep gravel alleyways and a generally unkempt appearance.
Trekking up the hill we came within sight of the new school and my breath was taken away. The structure is really beautifully designed and as I spent the next 6 hours taking notes and inspecting every square inch, my respect for the building grew and grew. It was built with a very strict environmental code of sustainability and low impact. It uses geo-thermal loops for heat assistance, natural prevailing winds for passive ventilation and the wood for the project was all harvested and milled on-site by the locals. Every detail was carefully considered right down to the rainwater collection used for the flush toilets (it is the "wet coast" after all). Beautiful in every way.
The whole village turned out to help put the final assembly together for the grand opening... and there were lots of details to take care of.
The flight home (on a Beaver this time) was just as spectacular -- the pilot looked to be in his mid twenties and his flying style was distinctively more aggressive than the older German fellow that brought us in with the tiny Cessna -- WAY closer to the treed mountainsides and a much steeper bank to line up for landing, which actually made it even more fun!
Me and my boss, happy with the productive and beautiful trip, started our drive homeward. We stopped and took pictures of 3 separate bear sightings. They are sure happy to be gnawing on the plentiful berries in the ditches this time of year. I am happy that they are too busy eating to mind us crazy bipeds screeching to a halt on the highway to lean out of our car windows with cameras! (This is the best picture I got... I barked like a dog at this one, and he was kind enough to turn around).
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On my request, we stopped at Long Beach.... (Kimber, the last time I was there was with you... remember the restaurant? how embarrassing! ) The weather was ideal for surfing apparently because there were dozens of people out there trying to catch the surf, and dozens more just enjoying the sand and sun despite the cool temperature.
As we went through Port Alberni, we stopped off at a drive-in that is the carbon copy of the one I carhopped at as a teenager, mmmmmm yummm, I had a big greasy burger and onion rings with a vanilla milkshake!
And we rolled into where my car was parked by around 9pm. I was tired and happy, what a day!
I was promised a trip out to this project (a new school) by my boss and this was the last chance I would get for a while, I leapt at the chance even though the weather forecast was grim.
My alarm went off at 4:30 am, and I got to my boss's house by 5:15 am. A quick coffee and we were on the road to Tofino... (we had to be there by 9:00 to catch the float plane out to the tiny First Nations Village of Hesquiaht).
The weatherman was fantastically wrong and the waters were calm and only a light fog blurred the outlines of the shore. The plane we wanted to catch was full, (they only fit max 3 passengers) so we had an extra 1/2 hour and had a yummy ranchero burrito for breakfast.
The flight up the coast was stunning! Emerald green forest as far as the eye could see rimmed with a rugged rocky coastline punctuated by hidden coves of pristine sandy beaches!!! I got to sit in the co-pilot seat, and I was gobsmacked the entire flight taking dozens of photos with my face pressed unceremoniously against the tiny windows. The landing was flawless and it really just solidified my LOVE of float planes.
The tiny village is stuck onto the hillside in a deep cove. Typical assembly of ugly box houses with no yard, steep gravel alleyways and a generally unkempt appearance.
Trekking up the hill we came within sight of the new school and my breath was taken away. The structure is really beautifully designed and as I spent the next 6 hours taking notes and inspecting every square inch, my respect for the building grew and grew. It was built with a very strict environmental code of sustainability and low impact. It uses geo-thermal loops for heat assistance, natural prevailing winds for passive ventilation and the wood for the project was all harvested and milled on-site by the locals. Every detail was carefully considered right down to the rainwater collection used for the flush toilets (it is the "wet coast" after all). Beautiful in every way.The whole village turned out to help put the final assembly together for the grand opening... and there were lots of details to take care of.
The flight home (on a Beaver this time) was just as spectacular -- the pilot looked to be in his mid twenties and his flying style was distinctively more aggressive than the older German fellow that brought us in with the tiny Cessna -- WAY closer to the treed mountainsides and a much steeper bank to line up for landing, which actually made it even more fun!
Me and my boss, happy with the productive and beautiful trip, started our drive homeward. We stopped and took pictures of 3 separate bear sightings. They are sure happy to be gnawing on the plentiful berries in the ditches this time of year. I am happy that they are too busy eating to mind us crazy bipeds screeching to a halt on the highway to lean out of our car windows with cameras! (This is the best picture I got... I barked like a dog at this one, and he was kind enough to turn around).
On my request, we stopped at Long Beach.... (Kimber, the last time I was there was with you... remember the restaurant? how embarrassing! ) The weather was ideal for surfing apparently because there were dozens of people out there trying to catch the surf, and dozens more just enjoying the sand and sun despite the cool temperature.
As we went through Port Alberni, we stopped off at a drive-in that is the carbon copy of the one I carhopped at as a teenager, mmmmmm yummm, I had a big greasy burger and onion rings with a vanilla milkshake!
And we rolled into where my car was parked by around 9pm. I was tired and happy, what a day!
8.19.2008
Frugalness Justified
(Spider, I think you and I can both relate to this post below, that's why I thought I would put it here and share the link)
Saving money tends to be the driving reason behind why many people turn to a frugal lifestyle. But after being frugal for a while, most people find that there are additional reasons to stick with this lifestyle, beyond the monetary savings. So what are some of the other reasons people pursue a frugal lifestyle?
1. It simplifies your record keeping. When you’re not overspending and incurring tons of bills, it’s less paperwork to keep up with, less bills to pay, and less time you have to spend tracking your money.
2. It simplifies your cleaning. When you’re not drowning in clutter, it’s much easier and faster to clean your house. You’re not always trying to clean around and between things you don’t even use.
3. It makes you healthier. Chances are that if you’re on a frugal plan you’ll eat healthier and exercise more as you stop eating out and do more for yourself.
4. It’s better for the environment. When you’re frugal, you generate less waste and consume fewer resources. The planet thanks you.
5. Frugality inspires an attitude of gratitude and contentment. Frugal living makes you appreciate what you have and helps you to realize that you are blessed to have it, even if it’s not the newest luxury what-not. This makes for a far more content life, rather than a life spent straining and whining for the latest thing.
6. You gain a better perspective on what “enough” really is. Frugal living teaches you that “enough” is not the newest luxury car, but a functional car (or no car at all, if you live in an area where that’s possible). “Enough” is not the latest gadget, but a loving family and food on the table. It helps you realize that you probably have “enough” and that there are a lot of people who don’t.
7. It might make you more generous. Once you realize that you have enough, and you’re grateful for that, you might find yourself more willing to help those who aren’t as fortunate, whether it’s through donations of money or time.
8. The thrill of the deal. Beyond the money you save, there is a thrill you get when you know you’ve gotten the best price on something or, better yet, scored something for free.
9. It equips you to survive. Truly frugal people do a lot for themselves. What they don’t know how to do, they learn. They learn to fix a car, repair a leaky roof, cook, garden, or sew. Many of these skills are forgotten or deemed unnecessary in today’s world, but should there ever come a time when you have to do for yourself (job loss, another depression, disease outbreak, etc.), frugal people are better prepared than most.
10. You learn a lot. If you’re doing a lot for yourself, chances are you’re learning those skills as you go along. Learning new skills keeps the brain active and gives you a feeling of accomplishment.
11. You’re teaching the next generation. If you model a frugal lifestyle for your kids, chances are they’ll go on to live a more frugal lifestyle and teach their kids the same. You can’t beat giving your kids a head start on good money management skills at a young age.
12. You become more creative. Making do with what you have and reducing spending requires you to more creative to get the most out of what you have. Can you reupholster that chair instead of buying new? Does that glass jar have some other use? Can the kids make craft projects out of that box?
13. You become more social. As you detach from “things,” you may find yourself moving more toward people. You may reduce your cell phone or email use and talk more in person. You have more time to go out because you’re not tied to TV. You get more involved in your community.
14. It reduces stress. Your “to do” list is likely to get smaller when you get off the consumer treadmill. You won’t “have to” go out to eat. You won’t “have to” take the kids to fifteen different activities if they’re having fun in the backyard. “You won’t “have to” work extra hours to earn enough to cover your wants. You won’t “have to” go out and buy new clothes every season. With less to do, you’ll find your stress level decreasing.
15. It puts you in control. When you do more for yourself, it puts you in control of the result. If you fix your own car, you know the mechanic isn’t charging you for stuff he didn’t do or wasn’t necessary. If you cook at home or garden, you know what’s in your food. If you handle your own finances, you know exactly where your money is and how much it’s earning.
16. You’re more comfortable. I don’t know how many times I see people here go out in the foulest weather because they “have to” go to the movies or the mall for something to do. I’d much rather stay in my climate controlled home with my frugal entertainment than sit in a cold movie theater (that I had to drive in the rain to get to) listening to the jerk behind me yak on his phone.
17. You can be lazy — to an extent. Frugality frees up time that would otherwise be spent driving, working, or shopping. With that extra time you can take an afternoon nap on Sunday, stay home and read the paper, or just stare out the window and daydream.
18. You have more options, flexibility and even freedom. When you’re not servicing the consumer debt machine and constantly worrying about making it to the next paycheck, you have many more options in life. You can choose to work more hours or not, or even change jobs, as your desire allows. If you’d like to live somewhere else or work somewhere else, you have the freedom to look into it without feeling trapped by “having to” stay at your current job. You can choose to have an additional child/pet (or not) and base that decision on more than money. You can choose to retire early or work through old age, if you want to. Frugality opens up your choices.
19. It saves all kinds of time. You spend less time in traffic. Less time cleaning. Less time standing in line and waiting. Less time dealing with unhelpful sales people. Less time shopping and running errands. Less time on the phone straightening out a financial problem. Less time paying bills. Less time dealing with the daily crap that clutters so much of our lives.
20. It satisfies a moral or religious edict. If your faith or morals dictate that you do more with less, frugality is the only way to go.
21. You want to make a political statement. If you want to rebel against consumerism and make a political statement about the evils of spending, frugality is one way (and the most authentic) to do it.
22. You believe in social justice. Some people become frugal out of a sense of social justice. In other words, they realize that they are taking more than their share of resources and that doing so depletes the availability of resources for others. They also realize that many goods are made with questionable practices and that to forgo some goods might help better those circumstances. They become frugal in an attempt to balance the scales.
23. You’re an animal rights activist. Many frugal people are also vegetarians. Eating less or no meat is a frugal choice that some people make because they don’t care for the ways farm animals are treated. Many frugal people also refuse to wear fur or leather because of animal rights’ issues, but it also saves money.
24. You want to lose weight. Frugality entails eating less/healthier foods and exercising more (walking to work, doing your own yard work, etc.). All are great ways to lose weight.
25. It beats therapy. Stress, depression, feeling out of control, and anxiety are all hallmarks of the consumer-driven lifestyle. Frugality reduces stress, increases your feelings of contentment and gratitude, reduces anxiety associated with money concerns and puts you in control of your life. Yes, you could see a shrink or take a pill to accomplish the same things, but it’s healthier and cheaper to eliminate the lifestyle that’s causing the problems.
26. Frugality honors your culture/heritage. [Dad was frugal] Maybe you come from frugal parents and grandparents and were raised to be frugal yourself. Maybe your race or ethnic group honors frugality and being a spendthrift isolates you from those core beliefs. Some people go frugal to honor those who have gone before.
27. It’s fun and challenging. It’s fun to find great deals, to learn new things, to find new ways to save, to do for yourself, and to meet others who share the same goals. The more you work at it, the more fun it becomes.
28. It gets you away from the media machine. If you’re worried about the effect that constant advertising has on your brain or your kids’ brains, frugality is one way to separate yourself from that. Less exposure to advertising teaches you that most “needs” are manufactured by Madison Avenue. You start to think for yourself again.
29. It teaches the art of compromise. Frugal people learn that you can’t always have everything you want, but you can have some of what you want. The daily compromise between buying store brand ketchup and name brand, or between buying a new bedspread and mending the old one, all so you can have more money for something else, teaches us how to compromise to get more of what we really want.
30. It puts you in touch with nature. Being frugal puts you back in touch with what “natural” really means. You’ll probably spend more time outside, buy or grow organic food and fabrics, and become less dependent on artificial “stuff.”
31. It improves your sex life. When you’re not strung out about money, you can have a more fulfilling life in the bedroom. When you’re not cramming your life with artificial entertainment, you have more time to play in the bedroom.
32. You want to sleep better. Rather than lying awake at night worrying about their money crisis, frugal people sleep better knowing that, whatever else goes wrong in the world, they’re able to care for themselves.
You can see that there are many reasons why people choose to be frugal, other than saving money. Saving money is a nice byproduct of these actions, but it’s not always the entire reason why someone chooses frugality. Next time you meet a frugal person, ask them why they choose that lifestyle. You might be surprised by the answer.
Saving money tends to be the driving reason behind why many people turn to a frugal lifestyle. But after being frugal for a while, most people find that there are additional reasons to stick with this lifestyle, beyond the monetary savings. So what are some of the other reasons people pursue a frugal lifestyle?
1. It simplifies your record keeping. When you’re not overspending and incurring tons of bills, it’s less paperwork to keep up with, less bills to pay, and less time you have to spend tracking your money.
2. It simplifies your cleaning. When you’re not drowning in clutter, it’s much easier and faster to clean your house. You’re not always trying to clean around and between things you don’t even use.
3. It makes you healthier. Chances are that if you’re on a frugal plan you’ll eat healthier and exercise more as you stop eating out and do more for yourself.
4. It’s better for the environment. When you’re frugal, you generate less waste and consume fewer resources. The planet thanks you.
5. Frugality inspires an attitude of gratitude and contentment. Frugal living makes you appreciate what you have and helps you to realize that you are blessed to have it, even if it’s not the newest luxury what-not. This makes for a far more content life, rather than a life spent straining and whining for the latest thing.
6. You gain a better perspective on what “enough” really is. Frugal living teaches you that “enough” is not the newest luxury car, but a functional car (or no car at all, if you live in an area where that’s possible). “Enough” is not the latest gadget, but a loving family and food on the table. It helps you realize that you probably have “enough” and that there are a lot of people who don’t.
7. It might make you more generous. Once you realize that you have enough, and you’re grateful for that, you might find yourself more willing to help those who aren’t as fortunate, whether it’s through donations of money or time.
8. The thrill of the deal. Beyond the money you save, there is a thrill you get when you know you’ve gotten the best price on something or, better yet, scored something for free.
9. It equips you to survive. Truly frugal people do a lot for themselves. What they don’t know how to do, they learn. They learn to fix a car, repair a leaky roof, cook, garden, or sew. Many of these skills are forgotten or deemed unnecessary in today’s world, but should there ever come a time when you have to do for yourself (job loss, another depression, disease outbreak, etc.), frugal people are better prepared than most.
10. You learn a lot. If you’re doing a lot for yourself, chances are you’re learning those skills as you go along. Learning new skills keeps the brain active and gives you a feeling of accomplishment.
11. You’re teaching the next generation. If you model a frugal lifestyle for your kids, chances are they’ll go on to live a more frugal lifestyle and teach their kids the same. You can’t beat giving your kids a head start on good money management skills at a young age.
12. You become more creative. Making do with what you have and reducing spending requires you to more creative to get the most out of what you have. Can you reupholster that chair instead of buying new? Does that glass jar have some other use? Can the kids make craft projects out of that box?
13. You become more social. As you detach from “things,” you may find yourself moving more toward people. You may reduce your cell phone or email use and talk more in person. You have more time to go out because you’re not tied to TV. You get more involved in your community.
14. It reduces stress. Your “to do” list is likely to get smaller when you get off the consumer treadmill. You won’t “have to” go out to eat. You won’t “have to” take the kids to fifteen different activities if they’re having fun in the backyard. “You won’t “have to” work extra hours to earn enough to cover your wants. You won’t “have to” go out and buy new clothes every season. With less to do, you’ll find your stress level decreasing.
15. It puts you in control. When you do more for yourself, it puts you in control of the result. If you fix your own car, you know the mechanic isn’t charging you for stuff he didn’t do or wasn’t necessary. If you cook at home or garden, you know what’s in your food. If you handle your own finances, you know exactly where your money is and how much it’s earning.
16. You’re more comfortable. I don’t know how many times I see people here go out in the foulest weather because they “have to” go to the movies or the mall for something to do. I’d much rather stay in my climate controlled home with my frugal entertainment than sit in a cold movie theater (that I had to drive in the rain to get to) listening to the jerk behind me yak on his phone.
17. You can be lazy — to an extent. Frugality frees up time that would otherwise be spent driving, working, or shopping. With that extra time you can take an afternoon nap on Sunday, stay home and read the paper, or just stare out the window and daydream.
18. You have more options, flexibility and even freedom. When you’re not servicing the consumer debt machine and constantly worrying about making it to the next paycheck, you have many more options in life. You can choose to work more hours or not, or even change jobs, as your desire allows. If you’d like to live somewhere else or work somewhere else, you have the freedom to look into it without feeling trapped by “having to” stay at your current job. You can choose to have an additional child/pet (or not) and base that decision on more than money. You can choose to retire early or work through old age, if you want to. Frugality opens up your choices.
19. It saves all kinds of time. You spend less time in traffic. Less time cleaning. Less time standing in line and waiting. Less time dealing with unhelpful sales people. Less time shopping and running errands. Less time on the phone straightening out a financial problem. Less time paying bills. Less time dealing with the daily crap that clutters so much of our lives.
20. It satisfies a moral or religious edict. If your faith or morals dictate that you do more with less, frugality is the only way to go.
21. You want to make a political statement. If you want to rebel against consumerism and make a political statement about the evils of spending, frugality is one way (and the most authentic) to do it.
22. You believe in social justice. Some people become frugal out of a sense of social justice. In other words, they realize that they are taking more than their share of resources and that doing so depletes the availability of resources for others. They also realize that many goods are made with questionable practices and that to forgo some goods might help better those circumstances. They become frugal in an attempt to balance the scales.
23. You’re an animal rights activist. Many frugal people are also vegetarians. Eating less or no meat is a frugal choice that some people make because they don’t care for the ways farm animals are treated. Many frugal people also refuse to wear fur or leather because of animal rights’ issues, but it also saves money.
24. You want to lose weight. Frugality entails eating less/healthier foods and exercising more (walking to work, doing your own yard work, etc.). All are great ways to lose weight.
25. It beats therapy. Stress, depression, feeling out of control, and anxiety are all hallmarks of the consumer-driven lifestyle. Frugality reduces stress, increases your feelings of contentment and gratitude, reduces anxiety associated with money concerns and puts you in control of your life. Yes, you could see a shrink or take a pill to accomplish the same things, but it’s healthier and cheaper to eliminate the lifestyle that’s causing the problems.
26. Frugality honors your culture/heritage. [Dad was frugal] Maybe you come from frugal parents and grandparents and were raised to be frugal yourself. Maybe your race or ethnic group honors frugality and being a spendthrift isolates you from those core beliefs. Some people go frugal to honor those who have gone before.
27. It’s fun and challenging. It’s fun to find great deals, to learn new things, to find new ways to save, to do for yourself, and to meet others who share the same goals. The more you work at it, the more fun it becomes.
28. It gets you away from the media machine. If you’re worried about the effect that constant advertising has on your brain or your kids’ brains, frugality is one way to separate yourself from that. Less exposure to advertising teaches you that most “needs” are manufactured by Madison Avenue. You start to think for yourself again.
29. It teaches the art of compromise. Frugal people learn that you can’t always have everything you want, but you can have some of what you want. The daily compromise between buying store brand ketchup and name brand, or between buying a new bedspread and mending the old one, all so you can have more money for something else, teaches us how to compromise to get more of what we really want.
30. It puts you in touch with nature. Being frugal puts you back in touch with what “natural” really means. You’ll probably spend more time outside, buy or grow organic food and fabrics, and become less dependent on artificial “stuff.”
31. It improves your sex life. When you’re not strung out about money, you can have a more fulfilling life in the bedroom. When you’re not cramming your life with artificial entertainment, you have more time to play in the bedroom.
32. You want to sleep better. Rather than lying awake at night worrying about their money crisis, frugal people sleep better knowing that, whatever else goes wrong in the world, they’re able to care for themselves.
You can see that there are many reasons why people choose to be frugal, other than saving money. Saving money is a nice byproduct of these actions, but it’s not always the entire reason why someone chooses frugality. Next time you meet a frugal person, ask them why they choose that lifestyle. You might be surprised by the answer.
Dave is coming!
Bird Brains.
If my fountain (pictured here) is any indication, then my cat's hunting skills are not decimating the Pine Sisken population after all. And now I know where the phrase "bird brain" may have come from. These little guys are fearless and slow to move when I come out onto my back porch.
If my fountain (pictured here) is any indication, then my cat's hunting skills are not decimating the Pine Sisken population after all. And now I know where the phrase "bird brain" may have come from. These little guys are fearless and slow to move when I come out onto my back porch.
Dave is coming!
My favourite brother-in-law is coming to stay for a bit. I am very excited after recent stress. The boys are giddy with anticipation over seeing their uncle again too.
My sister got kittens!
"Mr. Smudgy T.T." and his sister "Bogo" were just brought home this Saturday (Hey, I didn't name them). Sis's kids are very happy to have furry friends (even if they do have needle sharp claws at 8 weeks old)... they are really cute little things, and half Manx so they have a funny posture and no tails, super-adorable.
My dog is shedding.
This is his first summer, and OMG there is a TON of hair, he should be bald by now and it is really pissing everyone off how it swirls and eddies and drifts in the air and chokes every corner and flat surface. We brush him and bathe him and sweep and mop and !!!!!!! the hair!!!!!! Hopefully it is a seasonal thing.
Work is busy!
Not even joking, I have so much to do and it is all good stuff. Diverse types of projects, lots of opportunities to do more. I am so thankful I can earn money doing this at home, 'cause I love Graphic Design. (And dad said I couldn't make a career being an artist!)
We got a new BBQ!
We finally bit the bullet and bought a new BBQ, and it is the first new one we have ever bought. The last 2 we used were hand-me-down discards that T had reconditioned to work for us. And this last one we have been using for over 7 years (it looked rough when we got it). We use the outdoor appliance at least once a week all year long and 3 or more days a week in the Summer, but we couldn't stand the price of them (especially if you want a domestically made one). BUT Sears finally had the Canadian-made Broil Mate on sale and we went for it. As a result T has cooked dinner for the last 4 nights straight!!!! WooHoo!!! Yum, yum, yum.
No Photo-manipulation Required
At first I though the neighbourhood was on fire when I saw the eerie glow coming in through the front door! I looked outside and gasped in amazement!
Was I finally seeing an Aurora Borealis? Nope, Just a lovely sunset on smooth high clouds!
The lighting effect was really interesting all over.... just look at the odd glow of the butterfly bush flowers (the photograph almost caught it)...
8.08.2008
8.06.2008
Simplifying
They say you should lead by example....
I have been streamlining and de-cluttering at a slow and steady pace for a while now.
It is paying off!
T doesn't seem as stressed as he used to when he is home, and my sister commented on how peaceful and lovely my livingroom has become!
T also has been attacking his garage with gusto and we cleared out and entire bookshelf in there, freeing up a considerable amount of floorspace! And he installed some upper cabinets (with white doors) to store the great quantity of ugly fluid containers he needs to have for the motorcycles.... it looks so much cleaner just having them covered and off the floor.
But, by far the best pay-off so far is what happened last weekend.
The HGTV channel was on and they were showing the results of someone's hard work converting an old stable into a cottage somewhere in Europe. It turned out very clean and simple; white walls, understated neutral and sparse furnishings and still had some rustic charm with the exposure of the original bricks and beams.
Darling Steve says "Now THAT house, I like!" (I hadn't realized he was watching).
I commented on how I was surprised considering how chaotic and cluttered his room is! And he said he wished it wasn't.
So we formulated a plan!
We first removed the bins and bins of toys from his room and delegated them to the laundry/craft/playroom downstairs (which meant I had to clear space for them there too -- happy day). Then we drew a plan how he wished his room looked: White walls, a few minimalist display shelves for his precious models, and a roll-away desk that fits under his bed..... oh it will look very restful indeed!
Now his large, glass topped desk is listed on Kijiji and UsedNanaimo and the minute those are gone we will start painting!
I am very proud of him for wanting to do this.
I have been streamlining and de-cluttering at a slow and steady pace for a while now.
It is paying off!
T doesn't seem as stressed as he used to when he is home, and my sister commented on how peaceful and lovely my livingroom has become!
T also has been attacking his garage with gusto and we cleared out and entire bookshelf in there, freeing up a considerable amount of floorspace! And he installed some upper cabinets (with white doors) to store the great quantity of ugly fluid containers he needs to have for the motorcycles.... it looks so much cleaner just having them covered and off the floor.
But, by far the best pay-off so far is what happened last weekend.
The HGTV channel was on and they were showing the results of someone's hard work converting an old stable into a cottage somewhere in Europe. It turned out very clean and simple; white walls, understated neutral and sparse furnishings and still had some rustic charm with the exposure of the original bricks and beams.
Darling Steve says "Now THAT house, I like!" (I hadn't realized he was watching).
I commented on how I was surprised considering how chaotic and cluttered his room is! And he said he wished it wasn't.
So we formulated a plan!
We first removed the bins and bins of toys from his room and delegated them to the laundry/craft/playroom downstairs (which meant I had to clear space for them there too -- happy day). Then we drew a plan how he wished his room looked: White walls, a few minimalist display shelves for his precious models, and a roll-away desk that fits under his bed..... oh it will look very restful indeed!
Now his large, glass topped desk is listed on Kijiji and UsedNanaimo and the minute those are gone we will start painting!
I am very proud of him for wanting to do this.
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