Another View, Day 2

It's not your average place.

This thing sticks out in the neighborhood, ok, all 8 matching houses do, and say Euro-Centric Eco House!!  It veritibly shouts, "Why aren't you as green as we are?"  And pretty soon I'll adjust and stop feeling quite so self-conscious about that.  But let's just say, of all the houses in N. Portland, when I tell friends 'it's that unique eco-house a block from Jefferson HS', then know exactly the ones I am talking about...SAH

Opening the Door

I opened the front door today.  And the back door.  And every closet and cupboard door.  I joined the inspector as he rummaged around and looked at everything today, trying to discover concerns, problems, issues.

But really, he didn't.  But he was also deeply out-classed by the funky specialized systems in the home...in fact, Lori and I had to look for specialty vendors and engineers so we can really have all the systems reviewed.  So, the good news is, minor concerns, mostly related to exterior maintenance of plywood accent surfaces being weathered or a little peeling paint.  Fortunately, there's a 54 page Guide to Maintenance that comes with the home that listed all the vendors and maintenance required for each of the green systems.  We were amazed and SO pleased.  It was also great to discover in that book that the seller was the original buyer of the place by reading an article from the Oregonian's Home section.

Felt great to have over an hour to wander around, feel the place, see kids out on the playground at Humbolt, look at the planted beds and see strawberry plants.  Must ask if I can plant sunflower seeds and other stuff before we move in in June...

Started to feel dog allergy before leaving--a-CHOO--must get ducts cleaned and house and carpets professionally cleaned before moving in!   SAH

Day Two on the Way to the Shack

Well, even though it hasn't been long since we learned that our offer had been accepted and we were now on the long train to a real estate transaction, it was as if time had slowed down.  It seemed like every waking minute (and even some slumbering ones) was filled with thoughts and feelings and imaginings about inhabiting this new space, re-creating our lives in a very different part of Portland.  The more Sue Ann and I talked about what we had in mind, how we were imagining ourselves and our friends and loved ones into the space, the more exciting it became.

I think we have both mostly or exclusively inhabited older, traditional dwellings.  Lots of rounded edges, and comfortably overfilled spaces.  If we go into the EcoShack hoping to surround ourselves with all our "stuff" similar to the ways we've surrounded ourselves here on Ankeny St., we won't be happy.  One of the big components of the Shack is lots of natural light.  The main floor flows freely from the front of the house all the way to the back, unobstructed.  While we will want to warm up the seemingly cold modern spaces with the right furniture and rugs, we won't want to overfill the space.

The more we talked about this approach, the better it felt.  And it also seemed like making this move could serve as an opportunity not just to change where we live, but also how we live.  I'm sure there will be more on this later.  And it's quite possible that I'll be taking all my old habits with me.  But somehow this feels like a wonderful opportunity to create something new.  Stay tuned!

Dave

Day One EcoShack

So, first thing Dave said to me this morniong was, "So, how do you feel about the estate sale?"

I said "What estate sale?"

He said, "The one we are going to have to have to get rid of all our old stuff if we buy this house."

This evening at about 7:10, our realtor, Lori, called to say, "They accepted your offer!  You got the house!"

Nuh uh.  Whoa.  Wow.  What were we thinking this morning when we made the offer?  Oh, boy.

This afternoon when I got home here at the old house, I thought it was just so cozy and adorable...what are we thinking?  What will we do in a spare, undivided modern space with gray concrete everywhere?

At dinner, out celebrating late, Dave asked me to narrate a typical work day in the new place.  Then he did the same.  And suddenly, it seems like this adventure in the EcoShack is ON.  I see myself wandering around the planters in the morning and checking in on and feeding the chickens...(will our 4 chicks get to join us on the adventure??)  Dave saw himself getting the paper, maybe stopping to sit and read it in the ground floor room office/bedroom and walking to the shuttle at PCC Cascade.

While we are thinking a lot about the house, in fact, we don't really even own a piece of furniture together as of now...and here we are buying a pricey EcoShack together....omg. SAH

Offer Made on EcoShack--and Accepted?

Well, after a couple of months of looking for a different set of domestic circumstances here in Portland, Sue Ann and I today made an almost-full price offer on a very contemporary (built 2006), very green house in North Portland (NoPo, for those in the know), not far from Jefferson High School in distance, but far removed in terms of building philosophy and earth friendliness.

Truth is, this house represents a huge change from anything Sue Ann and I have ever faced.  We have invited ourselves to totally re-imagine how and where we live.  More details on that to follow.  But for now, we look forward with excitement and trepidation.  Are we ready?  Time will tell.

Dave