One of the odder things about our kitchen remodel is that folks are actually surprised by how calm Anne Marie and i are during it. We're cooking in the garage (although eating in the living room), but mostly adapting pretty well. Yeah, a third of our house is currently being rebuilt and for a few times it was questionable whether or not we'd have power or water when we got home at night, but even then, things went fairly well.
The point was driven home today at the lighting store when the guy helping us out told us that we were the most well adjusted folks he's met who were this far along in their remodel. He told us that most couples come in at the start, very much in love and as the project progresses and more and more of their time is consumed, eventually someone is abandoned at the store in tears while the other tries to get the employees to come to the divorce hearing.
A remodel is a fairly big affair, particularly in an older home, even more so if you happen to be living in it at the time. Figure it's going to take at least a month longer than the estimate, cost around 20% more than you figured, and involve a minimum of two major issues (half of which will be your fault). If you're not living a profoundly good life or have a habit of "Making sure that these losers do what i tell them to", increase those numbers exponentially.
It also helps to plan accordingly and stay flexible, but that's true regardless of what you're doing.
i thanked the gent (and later realized that i screwed up my order slightly with regard to the connector cables), and went about the rest of my day, knowing a little bit better why the divorce rates are so damn high.
