The trip to see the kids and attend the wedding is off. We are learning to live with the uncertainties of aged related health issues and climate change related travel complications.
It was our intention to drive this time as each of the last three times we flew we caught some kind of virus and spent weeks hacking and snuffling afterwords. The gong show that is the domestic airline business also makes me prefer driving.
In order to make the trip we need to go through the interior, which for the last several years has either been underwater after atmospheric river events or burning down with forest fires exacerbated by record heat and pine beetle caused die off. Whether or not the roads are open has become a bit of a crap shoot.
Not that you can’t get through if you wanted to. The only time there was no actual route was when the roads were washed out after flooding. The fires just add to the uncertainly of our travel plans. The straw which made us decide to not go was health related this time. When you wait 18 months for a test you don’t just cancel the appointment haphazardly.
Instead I have started two new client projects. First an off grid bathroom with outdoor shower and then renovate an off grid A frame cabin. Same client, which is nice. No hard deadlines, which is nicer!
Additional projects continue to fall in my lap as well. I met the new neighbour the other day and he has a few things on the property he asked me to look at. Re-standing a collapsed (a.k.a rotted out) arbor and sketchy deck rails.
The other day I was loading up tools from the workshop and a random walker stopped and ask if I could come look at her project. Turning a 16×24 foot unfinished outbuilding into a guest/studio space. The estimate I sent last night came to $20K. If she decides to give me the work, in addition to the other stuff on the list, will probably book out the remaining calendar space until the end of the year.
Somewhere in there I need to find time to put new metal roofing on my two sheds and rebuild the car shelter. Rains will start in a few weeks and I want three BMW under a roof by then.
The garden is winding down, maybe a few beans left to pick this weekend then we wait for the squash and potatoes to be ready. Good thing too as I suspect the cisterns are getting low. Might see an inch of rain this weekend, fingers crossed.
My Elysium 