The "break" Room

On an almost daily basis, I find myself letting my imagination run wild when thinking about material items that I will treat myself to once I finally make it. In fact, there is a game that my girlfriend and I play called, “when I build my house…” The game is simple, when an idea comes to mind, you then say that is what will be put inside your dream house. For example, I always say that when I build my house it’s going to have a 4 car garage. Two bays for my everyday vehicles, one bay for hanging out and projects, and one for my project car that I will be restoring in my free time. This is in addition to my man-cave, which at this point will be all the inane shit that I have collected and currently display in the museum I call an apartment. Then I will also have a large shed that opens up to entertain in my large yard. This will accompany the large fire pit area. The game goes on and on. After I meet all the needs for everything that I will have planned, I realize that I might as well buy a sleazy jersey shore motel and attempt to live in that with my crazy fantasies.

All joking aside, one thing that has come to the realization as I have grown up, is how valuable a helping hand is. The apartment that I am currently living in, has an amazing landlord, a nice set up, and all the accommodations’ that a young person trying to make it and live the "American Scheme" would need. It is well furnished with the furniture that does not match, decorated with art that amuses me, kitchen gadgets that are far from a set, and a collection of firefighting memorabilia. My rent is generously low and the way that I view it, it was given a major gift. If I was in better financial position, I would eliminate the need for a roommate and keep the apartment to myself. But I am not, so here I sit and write another blog.

Check out my new coat hook... Nifty eh?

Being that I feel that my apartment was a gift, I have done by best to continue to pass that gift on along to others that are in need of a helping hand. Over the last several years living in Jersey City, I have had a few different faces come and go. More often than not, I try to offer the room I have to someone that is in need of assistance. Some have been down on their luck and going through life changes, some have been going through divorces, some were trying to start a new career, and a few were looking to make it on their own. Whatever the case may be, I have always tried to use the apartment as a means of helping others.

Which then dawned on me, when I build that house with all the rooms. I plan to build the “break room” (and no, I am not referring to dispatch). Now it’s not your average break room with that over-weight weird guy from accounting that always seems to be constantly microwaving left overs. Nor will it have sexual harassment and right-to-know posters on the wall. No, my break room is for a different kind of break. It will be about lending someone a hand when their back is up against the ropes and they have nowhere to go. Whether it be a friend, family, a colleague, or just someone who needs a place to crash for a while so they can get on their feet, there will be a place for them to rest their head. (DON’T TELL MARE! About this plan! She doesn't know yet!)

In this line of work, and by line of work, I mean in public safety, there is a very high rate of divorce and separation. As if the stress of that isn’t enough, you have to still support a family, while having to have a place over your head. My plan is to be that helping hand. To be the safe haven, that just when you think you have nowhere else to turn to, someone comes and bails you out.  Granted, I speak highly of this now, with no crystal ball to see into my future. For all that I know I may be in need of someone else’s break room, but here's to wishful thinking.

I hope that those who read this, become inspired to help someone else out in a way they may not normally consider. More often than not we find ourselves throwing money at the problem rather than fixing it. I feel that we as a society have become more caught up with taking a selfie with tragedy and despair, rather than be willing to lend a helping hand and help out the fellow man. One thing that was instilled to me as a “yout” and further emphasized in high school was to give and not count the cost. I guess that’s why I still volunteer for some unknown reason. I am in no means saying that you should open up a homeless shelter, but if you know someone in need, and you have some extra space or some way that you can help them out, don’t hesitate to do so. I'm sure someone else with appreciate it, and if nothing else you score a roommate/live in drinking buddy. So you'll have that going for you, which is nice...