Poverty - A story of home ownership

Okay, I admit that the post title is pretty bleak, but we really shouldn't have anything to complain about. It's not like the majority of things we've had to pay for were unknown. Sure, we've spent more on the rental suite than we planned, but we both knew expenses would exceed what we anticipated, and we're hoping that it pays off in the long run.

It's not just about the house...

Patio stuff...who woulda thought to budget for that?

 

For any of you out there that aren't home owners, there are lots of unexpected costs. Not only are there legal fees, inspection fees, property transfer taxes and the lot, no one ever plans for the extras. Things like furniture...that little items, like the exact right table for that quirky little corner, or the perfect paint colour. I could rhapsodise over the "little" things. Electrical work, exterior painting, coffee tables, a new TV.

Of course, you don't NEED many of those things (except electricity...why have a dining room, if there isn't any light?). We've learned along the way, that it's better to invest in good quality furniture than dropping several hundred dollars on a mid-range sofa every 3-5 years, that solid wood for dining tables is better than MDF, at least, more often than not. Does that mean that we're always prepared for the unexpected? That we over budget and under spend? Hells 2 the no.

Never framed something, better learn!

Great you have a lawnmower, but you need a snowblower!

Ran out of gas...in minus 25...no problem

 Home ownership (particularly a house over 100 years) is not for the faint of heart or light of pocket book. (Oh well, fake it 'til you make it, am I right?)

Our summer is pretty well laid out for us...exterior repair (window sills and other wood works), exterior paintintg some minor glazing..yup, some of our sun porch windows need reglazing. Plus the bug screens that need replacing and general cleaning, tidying, gutter cleaning and trim work...we're in for a long summer full of work, expenditures and (hopefully) a truly beautiful house at the end of it. (As MasterCard says "priceless"!)

 

 

 Is it worth it? Yeah, usually, with some prudent decisions and damned good luck. Is it for everyone? No. Houses are la bit like children, they need stuff. They need love and maintenance, they need limits and a certain fatalistic calm. Generally, we enjoy it, with all the headaches, endless requirements for money and attention. Just don't get into it without realizing the dedication required.

   

Oh Canada!

It's a big birthday, for our big sized, little populated country. We've made it to 150 years of confederation. That's pretty young, as countries go and, while our history has terrible stains, as does any country with an empirical past, we've been trying to make amends, which, I feel, says a lot about us as a people.

I'm a proud Canadian, even knowing our history of subjugation of our aboriginal founders, the treatment of Chinese-Canadians who helped build the country, the rejection of immigrants off the west coast and internment of both Japanese-Canadians and aboriginal children. We have many kilometres to go to make our indigenous communities equal, we are still struggling to make peace and reconcile these groups, but, like I said, at least we're trying. We still have to address issues of racism, sexism and general prejudice.  but people who spew that, from my point of view, are in the minority and unlikely to fade completely, sadly. Human nature won't allow complete peace, I'm afraid, but we can try to get as close as possible.

I lift my head a little higher, as we have one of the best immigration programs in the world, that we were the final stop on the Underground Railway and that multiculturalism is the bedrock and defining character of how most Canadians see themselves - more so than even hockey! We invented zippers, basketball, peanut butter, Nanaimo bars and butter tarts. We're the home of poutine, the largest producer of maple syrup in the world, and some of the best wild salmon ever caught and produce an ice wine that would make angels weep with joy.  We're the birthplace of amazing comedians, actors and musicians, not to mention hockey players. There's a long list of things to be proud of, impressed by and jealous of, to be sure.

For me, this idea of being Canadian is not just about the maple leaf on my passport or it being home, it's about freedom from hate, intolerance and bigotry. It's about being welcomed warmly in almost every country I've entered that makes me feel so strongly about where I come from. It's about not being afraid to accept, help and give to others without fearing that we will lose something ourselves. Do we still have work to do? Yes, and the sooner the better, but that doesn't mean we haven't come a long way already.

Happy Canada Day!