So after recently doing an episode of the Answer up podcast, I gave a commitment to the hosts that I would blog more, so here goes. Over the last several months, life has been turned completely upside down. Through the ups and downs of coved, my wife and I were able to purchase a house. Which is an exciting and scary process within itself. From searching, to finding, to visioning, to questioning, inspecting, doubting, stressing, more stressing, even more stressing, to signing, to moving, to renovating. Being that I don’t identify as a millennial, this saves money in the long run. To be completely honest, I don’t know how anyone that can’t swing a hammer can own a home. I would say all the time after responding to incidents in homes, which these people don’t appreciate or understand what they have, and I still stand by that statement.
As for my situation, we were lucky enough to stumble upon a
home in the area that we wanted, with good bones, and a ton of potential. With
my background and passion for working with my hands, I saw this as a new and
exciting challenge. I enjoy fixing things, I enjoy seeing a project come to
life. It offers a distraction from the unnecessary stress of work and life. It
gives you a way to disconnect and focus on nothing but your task. It’s a nice
change. One phrase I find myself saying all the time is “Fix it Right”. Don’t
get me wrong, I appreciate and respect the work of a good contractor, however
as I start to tackle projects, there is no shortage of ingenuity in
construction. During the process of finding a home, I couldn’t help but see
nothing but lipstick on a pig. All too often I see quick flips that throw up
cheap drywall and some paint, charge an insane amount to an uneducated
consumer, take the money and run. Then as a society we rely on trades, because
most don’t know how to execute simple repairs. These are the people who can’t
snake a drain, or operate a plunger, shut off a water valve, or reset a
breaker. The other side of this coin, my generation has generated a crisis in
the trades. Since so few actually know how to do anything aside from live in
their own little bubble of life, it has created a cash cow for those who know
how to perform these tasks. To them, I say take the money and run, you’ve earned
it.
Now, if you’re still reading this, I congratulate you. My current
dose of insomnia has my mind spinning and causing me to rant to an audience of
probably nobody. And that’s okay to me. The last month, I have been busting my
ass to leave one place that held so many great memories and stories, to create
a new place, a better place, a forever place. My joints are aching, my muscles
are all sore, my hand are cut up, and I love it. It is such a refreshing change
of pace, and everything I do, I know it is making this place just a little bit
better than the way that I found it. It’s a good feeling. The downside is that I
am starting to leave my comfort zone, and taking on things that I would
normally try. I’m buying tools that I have never used, and imp watching YouTube
videos for pointers on how to pull it off. Which if I might add, never seems to
have the same scenario. For instance, a video on changing 3 way light circuits
describe 3 different colored wires, but not what to do when there are only 2
colored wires.
I will say one of the best parts about all of this is having
the opportunity to spend quality time with my father. I am able to have a
reliable work partner for this journey. More so, it makes these jobs fun. The
constant joking and ball breaking has been quite refreshing. We are making some
great memories and some recurring inside jokes that are proving to be timeless.
Plus, we both enjoy doing it. If not we would just be bored, and now is not the
time to just sit around lollygagging, we got shit to do.
So to those who made it to the end, I commend you. I also
encourage you to not be afraid to start that DIY project you have been thinking
about. You can do anything you put your mind to with your determination, a YouTube
video, and a few trips to Lowes (all within the same day). Don’t be afraid to
make that mistake or give it a stab. If all else fails, rip it out and replace
it. Then you get to start new and put your own spin on it. But if nothing else,
get your hands dirty. It feels great.
