Two years ...... and "only shades of gray"

On March 21 (the beginning of Spring) it will be two years of living in a rolling box.

Hang yer hat on that one.

Has it been worth it?  Would I do it again?

Yes and no.

If you are a low-stress person like the one to whom I am married, you can check off one of several requirements necessary for living in an RV.  I am not that person.  I envision every catastrophe possible as we're rolling down the road, navigating through tight traffic and into minuscule gas stations, crowded parking lots, and tent-sized camp sites.  Visually no lane on any road is wide enough nor was ever intended to accommodate anything this big.  (That's how it seems.)  And although we are now pros at prepping the Beast for a trip, and for setting up when parked, I still do not like moving the thing.  Which kind of defeats the whole point.  Husband loves to take it on the road, confident that all obstacles can be overcome, because he's the other type of person.  (See above.)

I DO like living in it when stationary in places like Palm Springs where it's warm in January and there's a swimming pool and jacuzzi just steps away.  Or when you can visit out-of-state relatives and still sleep in your own bed.  Having your entire house with you wherever you go, has its advantages.  Imagine never having to pack a suitcase or worry you'll forget something.  You not only have all your belongings with you, you even brought your own toilet.  Pretty cool.

On the other hand, being stuck in an RV out in a remote part of the world, through a cold and seemingly endless winter ..... that part I'd have to think long and hard about before signing up for another year.

So .... while I have no regrets, I don't want to do it again.

Unless we'd be wintering in Palm Springs.  Or Yuma.  Of course.

And now ..... house update.

"But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray"
(The Monkees, 1969)

The Finish-it-Ourselves phase has begun!  We spent last week painting the inside.  The still-freezing-at-night weather is forcing us to delay painting the outside for now.

"Fifty Shades of Gray" is another fitting title for our color choices.  More specifically, make that six shades of gray and counting. I have banished all beige from my life, and gray reigns as my new neutral.   Yes, since there aren't a lot of clouds outside, we'll create them inside.  If you're not feeling the gray-love with me, be patient.  The end result, as it exists in my mind, will be gorgeous.  Yes ..... darn it, it will.  You'll see.

The photo makes it look darker than it is.

Husband wanted to spray the whole thing, ceilings and all, one color.  I belong to the Likes-White-Ceilings camp.  (I learned at the paint store and online, that I am not alone.)  Therefore, we compromised.  The two guest rooms, guest bath, and laundry room have white ceilings.  And the den, which we painted a darker shade of gray, has a light gray ceiling -- the same light gray as most of the rest of the house.  I love my white ceilings but the price was -- I got to roll and edge all the associated walls (double coats) which took an additional two days.   Needless to say, it's much slower than spraying.  But white ceilings are light and bright and go with everything!  I can change the wall colors some day, if I want, without having to repaint those blasted 10-foot high, overhead surfaces.  Excellent investment for the future, I say.

Experimenting with exterior color combos (during a brief warm spell) and the rock is done!  (That front door is a temp till the permanent one arrives.)

The other great news is .... we can use our garage!  I mean, we can actually put things in it and it's not in anyone's way.  This means ..... storage!  Tools!  Equipment!  Our still crated wood stove!  You know .... stuff!!  The garage doors are still a couple of weeks away (back ordered) so we can't drive into it yet.  AND it has lights with switches and everything!  (It's the little things ....)

Next: Flooring.  Tile and hardwood.  The soreness has just begun.