Remodeling & Writing in Southern California: October 2013

Every place I've ever lived has been designed for that "average American family," with lots of bedrooms, living room, dining room, family room, etc. The problem was that I was a single person, not an average family. I needed space, but for hobbies, not people. And because I'm over 6'2", bending over to use sinks designed for children was a constant frustration. Over the years, I collected a list of things I would change if I could have my dream house. As I approached retirement, I realized time was running out for that house; it was now or never.

Dreams are not always perfect, however. I could never afford my dream house, a spacious Southern California home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. But I could afford a modest ranch house, with a 20-mile drive to the beach. It was a very long way from perfect, but it had potential.

This blog documents the process of turning that small average house into something that matches my lifestyle. It will be as close to my dream house as I can make it. I'm doing all the work myself to stretch my resources. By not hiring contractors, I can afford high quality materials, and I'll know the job is always done right. The remodeling will be my primary avocation for a few years, even as I try to fit in my writing and other hobbies.

It promises to be an interesting journey, and a challenging one!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Ripley's World coming soon

My non-fiction home care book is taking longer than expected, for various reasons, but mostly because I have moved into a "needs work" house. I am doing a complete remodel on that, and doing all the work myself, and currently using a bathroom as my temporary kitchen, so there is some urgency to keep work moving along. But because the home care book is dragging, I have decided to shift my writing focus back to Ripley's World, and expect to have it up on amazon before the end of November.