Pam – Page 116 – New England's Narrow Road

A Camp Style Bathroom

green and yellow bathroom — Camp style bath

Now that I have moved, I have to get used to new things all over again. Or should I say, “old things” that are new to me? I love that I have windows in both my bathrooms, even though the one downstairs only opens a few inches, due to the fact that I am not strong enough to shove it open more. Almost all the windows in the house are old and balk at being opened. A bathroom without windows is pretty dumb. It’s the one room that gets steamy and needs fresh air the most, so why is it that houses are built without considering that? I lived for 3 years in a rental with a tiny bathroom and no window, so having windows now is like heaven to me!
The upstairs bathroom (in my picture) reminds me of being at camp. Why on earth anyone would paint their bathroom bright yellow and dark green is beyond me. Even the stall size shower reminds me of going camping and taking showers in the hideous camping bathrooms – except that I love my shower. It’s small, but the water gushes out and it feels so good. Then I put up my window fan and pull in the fresh air and give thanks that I am standing in my own house – camp bathroom and all.

The Last Big Move

Cutest house on the island — Image by kendura99 via Flickr

Although my motto is “never say never”, I am hoping that this was my last big move. I found a house I could afford on my meager resources and lo and behold, I was approved for it! The process was a long one – 3 months altogether (I think a house can be built in that time frame)- but it was worth the trouble because now I am once again a homeowner! It feels so good. (NOTE: The house pictured IS NOT MINE.)

After being without the internet for about 2 weeks, it will feel good to be able to get back to my everyday blogging and Zazzle work, but first I must change my address with the many places who need the update, and I need to organize my office workspace. Right now I am working off of a card table that jiggles with each word I type. I am surrounded by unpacked boxes and a rolled up rug waiting to find a spot on the floor. My bills are scattered over a desktop that I can barely see and fans are running to keep me cool. Who has energy to do anything in this heat?

The heatwave began here in the northeast on the day I had the movers coming and I’ve been sweating ever since. I am thankful for the shady trees in my yard, but even they couldn’t help cool us off yesterday when the temps were outrageous. I do have one more move to make – emptying out the storage unit – but there is not a lot in there. I’m hoping for cool days the end of next week.

So far:

the fridge was out of commission for 10 days
there was a mix up with the Comcast cable/phone/internet company which made me wait an extra 5 days for service
My Zazzle paycheck was 4 days late (due to address change)
The woodstove came with me and is stored in the garage- long story (Anyone need one?)
My nice washer and dryer wouldn’t fit through the shed door by the basement so I can’t use them.
The locksmith cancelled at the last minute so I hope that I don’t lock myself out before he gets here next week.

Aside from all that, I need a new car and I have a list of fixes to make to the new house that must be done before winter.
But, it’s all good — I am a homeowner!!

Packing and Selling and Downsizing – Again

In 2005 I did a big move from Florida to New Hampshire. That was not fun. In 2007 I moved out of my nice house into a rental in Hopkinton. (Long, unhappy story) It was the beginning of my life as a renter again after 25 years of owning my own home. In 2008 I moved to a 3-story condo in Bennington – well almost. Almost all my things were moved into it, but then it flooded, from the top floor down, when a bathroom sprung a leak. It was unlivable and this was one week before I was to live there.

The property manager who was renting the place to me found me another temporary place (a small camp-type house with a composting toilet) where we lived for one month, but realizing that the water damage would take a long time to fix, I decided not to wait and ultimately found the duplex to rent where I have lived for the past three years.
Now I am moving into a home of my own and this move is a very happy one for me, but there is so much to take care of and lots more downsizing to do. My wood stove that sits in the basement here won’t fit in the small fireplace of my new place so I have to sell it.

I put up flyers in town, but truthfully I don’t think anyone wants to even think about winter and wood stoves at this time of year, so I have my doubts about selling it.

** The guy from the Heat is On stove shop was suppose to take my stove and put it up for consignment. He came by my house but didn’t have the right vehicle to take the stove. He and his friend left to get a van – and NEVER RETURNED. They didn’t even call to tell me they had decided not to take it – nothing! So he has lost a customer. And I love to support the “little guy” and small business, but I will not be buying my next stove from him.

I have to go pack.

I May Be Moving To A HOME! (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)
Wood Burning Stoves for a Winter Ready Kitchen (moneysupermarket.com)

The Shed Is Gone

One of the few things you can count on is the fact that life is always changing. It changes more and faster for some people than for others, but change is inevitable.

I was looking at my banner on this page and remembering the old man who owned that little shed that is shown at the end of the road in my photo. I only met him a couple of times and he was hard to talk to because he was very deaf, but the last time I spoke with him was on his birthday and he was 92 (I think he said). Shortly after that he had some sort of medical problem and ended up in a nursing home and later died. His little house went up for sale and was bought up quickly.

I never knew what that little shed was used for but it stood in a small grassy area with lots of blackberry bushes behind it and a bear once startled the neighbor kids when they were picking berries there for their mom. One day when I was out walking I noticed that it was gone. So the shed is gone and so is the man who owned it.

I’ve been renting in this area for almost three years and many of the houses on the road have changed hands. My son’s best friends who lived at the Girl Scout Camp for one season left to go back to Tennessee and I’ve never met the new family who took over as caretakers. Another family split up and lost their home and it’s now up for sale. Two other very nice homes on the this dirt road have also sold.

Anyway, things are always changing and soon I won’t be living here any more. I’ve taken lots of photos of the area in all seasons and it is a beautiful place, but I never felt like I belonged. That is how renting makes me feel. I will miss the lake and my walks in this wilderness, but I won’t miss the beach traffic of summer and the logging trucks in winter. We will come back so my son can swim this summer with his friends and I’ll bring a bag to pick the blueberries that grow along the lake road.

We’ll have all the changes to deal with in moving to a new place like meeting the new neighbors and finding new places to take walks, but I am looking forward to those changes because I will once again be a home-owner and that is what I’ve been waiting a long time for.