5/21/19
Building Summary: My morning at Jacobhouse was divided into two clearly defined portions (split by a pleasant Segway ride through the beef cows). For the first part, I brought five sheets of ½” plywood, three 8′ 2x10s, and two 16′ 2x16s to the container home with our big white pickup*. This was ensued by my toting away scrapwood and various other space-takers. The morning’s second part entailed my measuring, taking notes**, marking, and cutting two pieces of plywood to cover up the remainder of the pocket-door wall.
Commentary: I’m afraid I don’t have much for unique commentary today (a good thing). It was a productive morning, I drew up some marvelous measurements, and the heat outside was absolutely sweltering. IT should be noted, though, that I made a puzzling observation on the lattermost topic.
As I entered Jacobhouse’s air-conditioned interior earlier, and as I currently sip my seltzer-and-lime, I wondered and still wonder: Why is it so much more satisfying to step indoors or drink a cold beverage in the summer than it is to step indoors or drink a hot brew in winter? So far, the only answer I have come up with is that it’s the difference between refreshment and relief. Refreshment consists of reenergizing and restoration. Relief consists of returning to a more comfortable state. Refreshment grants something ‘in addition to’ whereas relief is a return to a comfortable norm (which makes refreshment a reward and relief a slackening of punishment).
What it comes down to is this: I have nothing against a warm, cozy alcove in winter, but there is a difference in energy between such a room and a cool, reinvigorating chamber during summer. One causes me to become sleepy, whereas the other causes a resurgence of vigor.
Final Note: Tomorrow I intend to fully fasten up the plywood I cut today, and I will also begin enclosing the wall between Jacobhouse’s bedroom and bathroom.
*The 2x6s and 2x10s are likely going to be used for container’s end wall – a wall that will hold the sliding glass doors (and that the container’s original doors will be able to close over).
**Pictured on Twitter.