Forever Home

I think it’s highly likely that my current house in the Arizona desert is the place I’ll be living the rest of my life. I’d rather live in a different climate in both the weather and political senses, but for career and family reasons (maybe not in that order) I’m probably stuck here. I could move tens of miles and upgrade some aspects of my living condition, but I’d indubitably make other things worse. It just makes sense to stay.

I made some errors in my youth, but the potential consequences were softened by strategically having upper middle class parents. Softened, but not eliminated. I’m 51. The course of my life will be bland but not uncomfortable if I don’t do something to alter my circumstances. I don’t want to cause harm in the world, and would, if at all possible, like to make even a tiny corner of the world better than before.

So I’m going to start treating my house like I’m never moving. I’m not going to do things in standard ways that are designed to keep in sellable. I’m going to dare. Example: If I find something amazingly compelling online that says it’s more efficient and works better to create a shower stall in your kitchen that doubles as the dishwasher, I might try it. More realistic example: I’m going to put together an aquaponics garden, with the aim of raising catfish and bluegill in my backyard … or more accurately side yard. My lot is just shy of two acres, so I’ve got some space to work with.

Potential Projects

(Note – this will probably get it’s own page that gets updates)

• Aquaponics System.
• Carpet on (more) walls.
• TTRPG/game oriented room that doubles as a dining room instead of a dining room that doubles as a TTRPG space.
• Outdoor venue with bar shed, good audio system, and places to mount video cameras to capture, say, wedding ceremonies.
• Library with rolling ladder (note – we’ve already got a significant amount of books and bookshelves, but I want the tall shelves with rolling ladder form factor to store them).
• Art rotation program. This one will get its own post soon.
• Shade structure over well.
• Walking path around property, perhaps working with neighbors to have it go along the road by their properties as well.
• Jellyfin server. (I’ve already got a Plex server, but want to migrate.)

There’s plenty more. Hopefully I’ll actually get some of these completed, and maybe this space will be useful for some other weirdo out there. Welcome to the Poore House.