Like most homes, ours is a work in progress.
Never mind that we've already redone two bathrooms, ripped out the carpet, put down some hardwoods, replaced the windows, retiled the backsplash, installed a new roof, put in a new front door, refaced the fireplace and painted more times than I care to remember.
There's always something. Problem is, you can't do it all at once - not unless you happen to have unlimited funds, in which case you'd probably move to a new pad whenever you tired of the kitchen.
And so the discussions begin.
"Next year," said the husband not long ago, "we really should do the office."
"No," I replied. "The laundry room's No. 1."
Our priorities are understandable, given the husband spends more time in the office, and I spend more time with the laundry. He envisions a room with fresh paint, open shelving, brand-new flooring and really decent lighting. I also envision a room with fresh paint, open shelving, brandnew flooring and really decent lighting.
Trouble is, they're different rooms.
"The office is depressing," the husband said. "The laundry room's an eyesore," I pointed out.
It doesn't stop there.
The husband believes that after we redo the office, we ought to replace the kitchen countertops, perhaps with some shiny new quartz.
Not me. There are homerelated things I'd far prefer to spend our money on once the laundry room's complete. Like new skylights, say. And new carpets in two of the bedrooms. And landscaping in the back.
"For the price of quartz," I've tried to explain, "we could get skylights, carpet AND landscaping."
"But landscaping is labour-intensive," the husband will argue. "You have to do things with landscaping. Like water it. You don't have to water quartz counters."
In addition to the budgetary concerns, of course, there is also this: I am generally resistant to household upgrades that disrupt the household. Landscaping, I like. An outside job means no indoor upheaval.
"The counter thing would be so messy!" I point out. "We might not be able to use the kitchen for days!" We're finding ourselves at an impasse.
In the meantime, at least, while we're deliberating and pointing out the pros and cons of one job over another, the wallet's not taking a beating. The upgrades may be stalled at the moment, but the credit line's sitting idle.
Perhaps we'll sit on the homework for now, and do something else with our money. To heck with the skylights and carpet, I say. I think we'll just go on vacation.
