The House in Transition

So, a bit over a year ago we were living in our RV at Campland on the bay. We went out for Thanksgiving at the RB Inn, Santa came to the RV on Christmas morning, and New Year’s Eve we went to a Party at the Campland tent. Turns out that living in the small RV as a house, is a very different thing than living in it as a home base while traveling... When you travel, you just need a place to eat and sleep. When it’s home, you need a place for everything, and, well, there isn’t room. Tempers frayed more than once – including the cat’s. So, we used up all the time share weeks, vacation time, and options for time away from the RV as we could, as the clock ticked towards 5 months in the RV. One of the final straws was that the fresh water valve for the toilet got stuck, and managed to flood the RV’s carpet- this, just after it had rained in the yard. There was no place that was dry, so, even though that house was still being worked on, we moved in to the bedrooms. There was no door on the bathroom. The heater wasn’t working. Most days (including weekends) the workers would be going by 7AM. The kitchen was torn up. But at least we weren’t in the RV any more.

So in this year, we have taken the property, and crafted it, rebuilt it, and made it both a home and the center of a thriving and growing community. We have a renter who is an awesome community minded lady that lives in the apartment in the back. We have opened up the RV (which we can fit in our back yard) for guests on weekends. We have a monthly community dinner, and events at Barbara’s office. We walk to Balboa park, the farmers market, the grocery store, the restaurants. They restaurateurs know us, as does the clerk at the store. We have made two raised planters, have set up gray water recycling systems, are building a composter, have a Jacuzzi that was given to us to pick up this week, and hopefully will be building a chicken coop soon…



Some pictures of the transition and nice features

Before and after

 And the bathroom...

A few examples of how the former tenants left the place, and didn't evenpay the last months rent.  Interestingly, he just asked to "Friend Us" on Facebook...

A detail of our low water front yard, with meditation spiral

The appartment in back with three garages - and storage for the RV to the left.

Two of the planters that we added in the back yard - watered with gray water from the kitchen sink, and the tub. Someday I'll make that stump into either a chair, or the base to a "tree house" for Delilah.

Barbara's loby with one of her beloved lights

And office with salvaged leaded glass windows

And some of the dear folks during a recent community dinner.  The tables are made from two of the original doors that were left on the property.