Trailer Trash

While Dan is gone, my goal is to stay as busy as possible which generally isn't a problem. I've usually got at least 10 projects going at any given time but I am considering taking on my biggest project yet in the near future. We have always been motivated to own our own home and we are finally at the point where it is feels doable.

I have always been a little obsessed with design and house "stuff" and this has only been exaggerated since we've been seriously considering buying. Every house I see for sale, no matter how horribly decrepit and run down, I imagine all the things I could do with it - no matter how unreasonable and illogical. The good news is while Dan's been in AK, I have found what could be the perfect place... it's a mobile home. Contradiction, no? Let me gussy this picture up for you a bit. The mobile home is old and appears to be in pretty rough shape BUT, it's on a full basement, on over three semi-wooded acres in a dream location AND right next door to our dearest friends. The price is unimaginably low, presumably because no one wants to put out the 20% down required to buy a ramshackle old mobile home so I'm guessing it's going to be on the market long enough for us to make a decision when Dan gets home in the next few weeks - fingers crossed.

We have always debated over whether or not we would prefer to build or remodel our first place and this could be a perfect compromise because we could, in theory, create a basement apartment while we build our dream home above us. Could be awesome. Here she is, in all her glory.

Hope you're wearing your rose-colored glasses!

Dan loves the idea of owning a home as much as I do and as much as he looks froward to a renovation his work schedule will most certainly leave a lot of responsibility and/or the hassle of living in a temporary housing situation on my shoulders so it's hard to say what the next few years will hold for us should we choose to proceed with this option. Either I am up for the challenge or I have myself fooled into thinking I am, either way, I'm ready to make an offer as soon as Dan comes home and gives the green light.

Dan, Dan, the fisher-man

So, I have this husband. He's pretty great and we have a pretty good thing going but you see, he's gone for pert near half the year bringing home the bacon. He's a commercial fisherman and can currently be found floating somewhere in the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay, Alaska. While in Alaska, his only ready means of communication is an on-board satellite phone which is prohibitively expensive so we generally only talk a handful of times while he's gone. Needless to say, things get a bit lonesome on the home front without him but I manage to stay pretty busy and distracted to avoid time for pity parties.

I had almost forgotten what a looker he is... almost.

The salmon run in Bristol Bay was not what we were hoping and it may result in Dan having to come home for a quick visit only to leave again for a new job fishing for tuna off the coast of Oregon. While tuna fishing is something he has always wanted to try and we certainly could use another pay check - it would be squeezing a whole lot into just a few days. Lots of catching up with friends, lots of family time, lots of work, and, oh yeah, maybe the purchase of our first house if we have an extra moment - no big deal...

Here goes...

I'm finally taking the plunge. I've long threatened to start a blog and I'm not sure what I was expecting... flaming hoops to jump through? A personal essay requirement? But no, in these last few minutes of my work day, I believe I've done it.


So... here goes nothing!