Shin the Homeowner (Prior)
Yeah, I own a house in the San Francisco Bay area. I just missed the anniversary of the date I purchased it, Nov. 1, 1981, and I hope it isn't too upset with me. Perhaps having a section of my website dedicated to this fine bit of paradise will make it feel better. Probably not as much as if I cleaned it up real nice, but it's a start.
This section has grown to include the house, the yard, the garage, the car and environs.
Last Update: March 2, 2024
The John Shinnick Web Site
Then we had a storm and my back fence came down in the wind. The neighbor who I share the fence with found someone to replace it, but again, sticker shock. Home maintenance and improvement just seem to cost a lot more than they used to.
But it’s all part of home ownership. I remember when I took over my mother’s house when she died over 45 years ago. I looked at what it would take to maintain it and seriously considered moving into an apartment. Then I looked some apartments and the cost of renting. Suddenly home ownership looked pretty good and I suppose it still does. I never expected to live in my current house as long as I have, but I never got married and had no need of a bigger place. Since the pandemic, I’ve gotten to know my neighbors better, and they’re truly wonderful. In short, having a house in my neighborhood is a definite plus. Projects like these are just part of the lifestyle.
So I juggled a little money here and there and it’ll be fine. Sticker shock and all.
It’s been said that it never rains but it pours. I guess that’s why we have homes.
I’ve been living a rather charmed life when it comes to my house. Not much has gone wrong. I’ve had the usual repairs that a homeowner has to expect. A dishwasher needs replacing. I needed a new roof, but that was a couple of decades ago. I did a major remodeling just a few years after I bought the house, and in general I’d say I’ve put an average amount of money into keeping the place livable and more to my liking.
Some of the work will count as “capital improvements” which means I can take a deduction on my taxes when I sell the house. I made a big project a few years back documenting all such expenditures. I’m sure it will come in handy. But I haven’t had any recently.
But I did have a couple of projects in mind. My bathroom calls out for a remodel. I’d like to replace the bathtub with a shower, something I don’t have to step over. That step is getting harder to make, and having just injured my knee slipping on my kitchen floor, I’m in no hurry to tempt fate. I never take tub baths. Besides, several of the floor tiles are cracked or chipped, and the sink area always looked kinda ratty.
My front yard calls out for a re-do. I hate having a lawn that needs mowing and watering, both ecologically unsound. I feel guilty just looking at it. Artificial grass in front I find to be a bad look, though in the back it might be nice. And my sidewalk looks pretty awful. Some of the wood that separates its sections needs replacing, but really the whole design never suited me. And so on.
Just when I was trying to prioritize my projects, I got some unexpected help. From God. Close inspection showed me that my front windows, which always get the most sun, needed repainting. But of greater importance was that a crack had developed between the house and sidewalk. A crack that was wide enough to let water in. Knowing that I wanted to replace the sidewalk anyway, I arranged to have these projects done.
I happened to have worked for Chrysler when Lee Iacocca took over. He introduced a term he used to describe the emotion felt when one was given the price of a new car: “sticker shock.” When I got the estimate for the work, that’s what I experienced, sticker shock. I resigned myself to my desire to do these projects so it was all systems go.
The new fence. Looks nice.
Mo' Money, Mo' Money, Mo' Money
