Bruce is having a new shop built and watching the progress reminds me that Washington has proposed a building project that’s a lot more expensive than ours. You don’t need, or want, to hear my opinion, but I have noted some similarities in the two ventures.
1.The dimensions for our building got expanded as more of the people who have an interest in it were involved.
2.This is costing a fair bit more than the original plan.
3. The project is being hurried right along. We originally were told that materials wouldn’t be shipped until January but the trucks were here by the end of November, which meant some adjustments to the financial planning.
4. Extra amenities are being added—a pad to park the camper on. It’ll be nice, but we were doing fine with it parked under a tree by the barn.
There will likely be further adjustments as things evolve, but I can’t predict what they will be, and it’s not my dollar being spent anyhow. That’s the main difference between the new shop and the President’s Build Back Better plan. No matter how you plot it on paper and spin it to the media, funding for Build Back Better will come out of everyone’s pocket.
Another major difference is that details of what’s happening in our yard were specified, and agreed on, by the people who will be utilizing the improvements. A building permit was required. Whatever comes down from Washington, at any point, and in any manner, is always vague, subject to change without notice, and without the average citizen having signed off on it.
Whether you are “fer it, or agin’ it,” there are parallels in the government plan and our personal lives. It’s not the New Year yet, and I don’t make resolutions anyhow because, once broken—and they always are broken—it’s easy to give up and go back to the old.
But here’s what I’d like to build better in terms of personal growth. I want to stop worrying over things I can’t change. I want to be a better friend, wife, parent, and citizen. I want to travel a bit, play more and work less. Those things are just a foundation, but even a foundation has to be square and specific. How often will I reach out to someone? Where will I travel, and when; who will go along? How much contact with my children’s families is appropriate, and what would be invasive? What chores can I accomplish on my own without bothering Bruce for honey dos? What will I do for fun, and does that infringe on someone else’s agenda?
Well, as you see, this project could easily get ahead of me and it will cost a lot, in terms of time, self-awareness, and probably a sore tongue, when I bite back a critical remark and replace it with a compliment.
Bruce occasionally stops to observe the building progress and pencil out what needs to be adjusted. I’ll need to review at the end of each day to see if I made any progress and, if not, what needs to change. I’m sure there will be delivery delays for some of the shop materials, and I’m sure I’ll hit personal snags and have to reorganize but, just think…if we all plan the foundation now, we might build a whole strong community.