If you can Dream it you can do it!!

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.  Mahatma Gandhi

I tried keeping that in mind as we continued our walk through the house, I kept telling myself you have been through this before, see the positive possibilities.  Redirect your panic and the energy of your frustration into positivity and that Raelene unstoppable determination! I really tried, but all that kept creeping into my head was, just remember the contractor's initial estimate should be seen as a work of fiction…. so make sure you get three estimates on everything. <Grin>.

We started making lists of what needed to be done, but then as we listed each thing, we began to realize if we stopped there it would only make everything else look worse. Hmmm, ‘‘If only we could get a new couch,'' I say, but once I made that glorious purchase, my eye was drawn to the carpet, which looked fine when we bought the house, but now empty, with a brand-new couch sitting on it, appears to suffer from a medical condition.  So we decide to remove all the carpets and existing tile throughout the house and put in new floors.  Then my eyes went to the walls, which used to look fine but now, I hate the paint color, OMG it has become almost a complete remodel.

I reasoned again with myself; if you don't like something change it! After all you have to live with these changes for a long time,don't settle, telling myself if you're not willing to risk the unusual then you will just be settling for the ordinary. 

So I reminded myself about the lemonade saying my Mom always quoted.  But I'd put my spin on it, so if life gives me lemons I won't settle for simply making lemonade, I will make a glorious scene at the lemonade stand. <Grin>

And so the remodeling began in October 2013, and it continued through 2014, with new tile floors, painting, baseboard installation, new fans, lighting, light switches, garage floor, brick work in the front and back yards, plantation shutters, transformation of the wardrobe closet doors, bathroom windows and mirrors. Every time I came out to see the progress on the house, I would notice something else. Such as, wouldn’t that half-moon window over the kitchen sink look neat if it matched the stain glass lamp in the dining room, and on and on it seemed to go. 

Finally I said to BFF hubby, I think we are in the home stretch, and then I would notice something else, I really hate that silly shelf thing in the wall; let’s have it filled in so we can mount the flat screen on the wall.  Then I would complain to BFF hubby and ask why is it all taking so long, and then he would tell me the contractor had to finish something at another person’s house, or was off to Arizona for two weeks!  I would freak out and say, “What do you mean the contractor will finish the floors in two weeks, he had to go to Arizona?” This was all becoming so stressful and seemed to be dragging on forever.  I found out through all of this that the quickest way to get rid of a contractor is to hire him! <Grin>

During all of this construction, I reminded myself that Patience is a virtue, and then my little voice would say or is it really the art of concealing your impatience?  Well, let me tell you, I had to really learn to practice patience and it was a tough lesson, as during all of this I found myself drifting off when hearing the reason for the delays from the contractors.  I know, I know, it takes patience to listen, but let me tell you; it takes a whole lot of skill to hold one’s temper and pretend you are listening! 

In the meantime I continued working, as due to all the construction, I had not yet decided on the date I was retiring.  I figured what the heck, the rate construction was going I had plenty of time, or was the reality that I was finding more and more reasons to not have the house ready for us, otherwise I would have to actually put in my notice and retire.

BFF Hubby called me on this, we are after all a team, and there our unity is our strength.  When we collaborate wonderful things can be achieved, that’s what I told myself. <Grin> so I said OK, left the remodeling projects to him, and committed to giving my notice in March, for June retirement.

I heard a funny saying from one of BFF Hubby’s Mother’s friends who is 90 years old; I had never heard it before so I have to share it with you.  When helping her with her computer she said, “I am so embarrassed, I feel like a penny waiting for change.”  How funny is that?

Stay with me and I thank you again for taking this retirement journey with me, or "my longest coffee break."  I'm just sayin’……..