Sunday, May 10, 2009

One Single Impression -- "What's it like?"

What’s it like?

What’s it like
to live
where the roof
don’t leak,
without patched floors,
duck-tapped doors,
and torn linoleum?
Where you don’t
lie awake
in the dark
wondering
“do I hear dripping?”
What’s it like
to plan a house,
build new,
start fresh?

©sgreerpitt
Sunday May 10, 2009

No, we're not destitute. We hope to move in the next three years to a more urban area, and hesitate to put any significant money into this 30 year old trailer that we own outright. We could never sell it, it's too far gone, and would take more money than most people in this county make in four years to repair adequately. It wasn't installed properly by it's first owners, a lake sits under the house year round. Even if we stayed, we'd need to simply replace it. So for the moment we engage in temporary patches, hoping for it to remain habitable for a while longer.

11 comments:

Amias (ljm and liquidplastic) said...

I feel you Sue. I had to file for a bankruptcy, so even thought my credit is shot for the next 7/10 years, it sure feel good starting fresh, first time I ever had to do this ..... cash is so much better, and less stressful! I may be broke, but at least I am not hounded by banks that using my tax dollars to bail them out, while I am getting run over by over the top interest.

SandyCarlson said...

I wonder what it's like to be able to do that, too. I am thinking of living without the worry of what needs repairing. Hmm....

anthonynorth said...

I sympathise. I've lived in some fairly run down places myself - and then, of course, I'm the planet's worse handyman, which doesn't help :-)

Deborah Godin said...

Well, duct tape is a wonderful thing, but it has its limits - hope you can hold out until you "find out" what it's like!!

Beth P. said...

Dear Sue--
Sweet poem! I've lived in old modulars in the past--it's no fun knowing that any equity you may have is running down the drain pipe, that is, if they're still attached!

I hope you find a way soon to live, breathing out!

Jim said...

Hi Sue -- For sure your cat doesn't seem to be bothered. She/he looks like a nice cat.

Our house was new when we retired nine years ago, the roof has leaked, the floor has cracked, the walls have cracked, it had to be painted again, and the air conditioner was put in wrong. All those things come to mind quickly.

You did very well describing the situation, just an awful lot of people live like that or worse. Some don't have water to drip. Or floor covering to rip, etc.
..
Oh yes, the hot water heater started leaking. The doors to the place where it was were too small so they had to be enlarged to get the new heater in. We stil haven't fixed the floor coverings over the bare cement where the old door frames were.
..
But for sure it will be nice to move into a nicer place and newer neighborhood. We did that several times.
..

floreta said...

i can definitely get a sense of what it's like!

gautami tripathy said...

It might appear hard but with hope, one can conquer anything!

Tumblewords: said...

I feel the same way. Sometimes, there's nothing left but the dream. Nature has a tendency to reclaim everything. Thoughtful poem...

gabrielle said...

believe it or not, i dreamed for years of living in a trailer. I didn't care if it leaked or even if it had a toilet. Just as long as I wasn't eating off someone else's plate. Bought my first house at age 39 and never looked back. sometimes good enough just isn't good enough. I hope you too will move into your dream.

Neverending story said...

Yes, this is a case when perhaps the grass is greener on the other side - I have not yet made a home as we have worked temporarily, on one year contracts, for 12 years now in a foreign country. I do wonder what it's like to make a home.