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A bed. Two bedside tables. A pot rack. Two dressers (man am I sick of making drawers!). A dining-room table. Four chairs for the dining-room table. Two stools for the kitchen counter. A metal rack that we call “the appliance garage.” A monolithic wardrobe. Two office chairs. Two office desks (and more chairs—man am I sick of assembling chairs). A TV stand and a tall shelf. Six lamps and a convertible couch.
That’s what we built during the past two weeks. Yesterday the living-room furniture arrived. Blissfully, it was assembled. (That’s it above.)
I was thinking about all this furniture this morning, and comparing it to buying a new car. Fifteen months ago we sold almost everything we owned—including our furniture—and pocketed $2,000. Last week we wrote the final check for new furniture. All those checks together totaled a little over $8,000. Exchanging new furniture for old, in other words, cost us $6,000. That’s about the same hit you take when you drive a new car off the lot.
(Thank God we don’t have a car.)
Was it worth it? We could’ve rented a storage garage for $150 a month, after all, kept all the old stuff, and come out $4,000 ahead. I could’ve driven clunkers instead of all the new cars I bought over the years too. Do I regret the new cars? No! Do we regret the new furniture? No! Like new cars, the furniture is an expression of the here and now: it fits the new apartment perfectly; it’s reflective of our combined artistic identity; it obliges the functions that we want in furniture at this stage of life.
Compared to living in Portland, our year abroad turned a healthy profit. Even after my medical costs, we realized a considerable windfall. I’m of a mind that a windfall should be properly acknowledged. It’s an indignity to put it in the bank and neglect it. Spend it! Enjoy it! Squander it!
Done.
It looks maahvelous. As to the math, some things are priceless, aren’t they? Travel, adventure, breaking out of the usual rut, coming back with a shift is world view, shared memories, again, priceless. You have for sure come out ahead.
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It’s all true. I’m happy to have a kindred soul.
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Sounds like great math to me…
When hard backs are out I will want you to send one to Watson Kennedy… I will try and make contact with Ted this weekend.,, do you have any signings scheduled in Portland?
Beautiful day here. Loving it
Sent from my iPhone
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I did this myself 3 times in my life !!! I feel SOOO liberated !!
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It IS liberating, isn’t it? And a boatload of fun. Thanks, Mapi!
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It’s gorgeous – and what a view! Looks like you found the perfect place to call home. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Terri
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