Where I learn some things I never wanted to know

The Auntie Flat Project: Where I learn some things I never wanted to know.

At first, our latest design team meeting seemed like nothing but bad news. I arrived at B & SL’s house for a spaghetti and meatball supper. SL was having a massage, so it was just the two of us and the dogs. He started by talking about financing the new houses, not my favorite topic. He said that if something is going to derail our plans, he thinks it will be the financing.

My contribution is the land. B & SL plan to use their current house to pay for the new one. I told B that I wish Mom were here because finances were her hobby. If anyone could figure all the angles, she could. He also said he planned to go to the zoning board (or whoever) to request demolition in September. Uh, I thought we’d be halfway through construction by September.

Then SL arrived. She said she hadn’t fully committed to the project yet because she wasn’t convinced the financing would work. Oh, man. I am fully committed because if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I will do. After learning about my house’s structural problems, I know I can’t stay here indefinitely. And no one would buy the place except to tear it down. Plus, if I sold it, I’d have to move and I don’t want to move. I like my neighborhood.

SL mentioned that it would take nine months to build the new houses. What? Nine months? I was thinking it would take a couple of months. See “halfway through construction”, above. B confirmed that it would take a minimum of six months to build.

Then we looked at B’s latest sketches. It looked amazing, with peaked roofs and dormers and a wraparound porch. Unfortunately, this design gave me less space above the garage than I would have had in the first option at ground level. Why would I choose to contend with stairs for less space? Well, it gave B & SL about 300 additional square feet.

There was talk and computer illustrations about bulk plane requirements (don’t ask) and it turns out I could have more space, but it wouldn’t look so pretty on the outside.

B said he would do some more work with the design and I left feeling discouraged. Luckily, things start looking better within a few days. If anyone ever tries to tell you that designing and building a house is smooth sailing, don’t believe them. It’s a roller coaster ride—exciting, but hard on the digestion. To be continued.

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