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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.
Anita Blanchard said:
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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Tom said:
It’s all true. I’m happy to have a kindred soul.
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belittlehouse@comcast.net said:
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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mapi said:
I did this myself 3 times in my life !!! I feel SOOO liberated !!
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Tom said:
It IS liberating, isn’t it? And a boatload of fun. Thanks, Mapi!
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gallivance.net said:
It’s gorgeous – and what a view! Looks like you found the perfect place to call home. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Terri
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