dream.e2's Profile

My husband and I did it the other way. We saved up for years to buy our tiny fixer-upper in the perfect neighborhood. During those years of penny pinching, our son came along. We would have loved to have renovations pre-kid and work hours on end without having to worry about meals, bath times, bedtimes, activities but that just wasn't in the cards for us. Instead, on most days we go through the crazy cycle of work-renovate-take care of dependents-sleep-and repeat. It is infinitely harder to take a mid-day nap these days, or have a date night. But yeah... I generally agree with this post. Taking the time to enjoy life is so essential. We try so hard to make the best of each free moment. Like savoring the time we are sitting in a park on a perfect spring day, sun on the shoulders, wind in the hair.... even if it is while watching the little one's soccer practice.

@emel3srk ME TOO! I loved those old favorites from my childhood. My favorite was Anu Nosim Lapidim. I'm looking for these songs to bring to my kid's daycare for a Hanukkah celebration.

It's day 9 and we are still without power at home in NJ (I am writing this at work where there is power and internet).

Before the storm we thankfully followed tips to stock up on food, water, batteries, cash, fill up the tub with water, get cash, fill the cars up with gas. ALL of these came in handy at the end.

At one point during the storm, we moved to an area where there were the least amount of windows as trees came crashing all around us. I know people that narrowly escaped tragedy when trees came crashing through their houses. I had my 3 year old sleep in the basement where we played a camping game.

We got a lot of use out of candles and flashlights (I recommend LED and headlamps as well as the crank lanterns). We are also lucky as we have a tiny generator that has been keeping some food fresh. We have a chainsaw and have been helping neighbors where we can.

The one thing I didn't remember to prepare is paper maps. I work in a wooded area and nearly all roads were blocked. GPS and cell reception were down and I got quite lost.

The most important tools we had were the abstract ones... A sense of humor to keep us from going insane in a 4 hour gas line, a sense of gratitude to have an undamaged home and safe families, and a sense of community and compassion. No one is an island. We're all interdependent.

xo