Post date: Mar 22, 2015 9:21:47 PM
I have landed in Taos, with cat, most of my hand tools, electronic toys, most of my clothes, and a strange assortment of other things that I thought I would need while renting a room and building a house.
Technically, I am not building a house. My contractor is building the house. But, since the house will be mine, and since I spent six months in detailed (mostly via Email) discussions with my architect, Bill Hoffman, agonizing over the design, I plan to be intimately involved in the construction of said house.
But back to settling in. I am very fortunate in that another 'commoner' (member of Valverde Commons cohousing) has a finished house five lots away from mine and will not occupy her house for about a year. She is renting me a room, garage space, and use of her kitchen and living room. Fantastic.
This rented room makes me super available to pester the builder, Eli Sanchez. Actually, Eli says that it is good that I am close, because decisions always arise during construction and he won't have to search me or wait for an answer. (I am fully aware that the designer cannot fully meet the owner's needs with even the most complete design from my experience designing and building computer software.) So I plan to be nearby - if not under foot - to document the process and the 'as-built' conditions, and maybe be helpful.
Speaking of documentation, I thought it would be fun to make a time-lapse movie of the construction process. So I found an inexpensive camera specifically made for taking time-lapse photography (Brinno). I tried it at home, and it does work as expected. I have set it up in the window of the community barn that faces my property. (The window had not been washed since the barn was built a couple of years ago, so I washed off the fly specs first.) I'm hoping that the morning sun won't wash out the view and the reflections off the window glass are not intrusive. Construction hasn't started, so I'll test it for a day or two.
Another part of settling in was going to church - St. James Episcopal. Actually, every time I have visited Taos I have sung with the choir, so, in some senses, I have settled in to church. But today was a special super newcomers' coffee hour with an additional hour of introduction to the leaders and explanation of what people do at that church, including outreach programs, study groups, education, music. and helping with the services. They do quite a bit there.
Not all the lots in the Valverde Commons cohousing community have been sold. There has been quite a bit of interest lately, and this afternoon will be a 'tea' for a prospective couple. Since it is right next door, I cannot resist - not that I would want to resist.
The location of this community is ideal, from my perspective. It is a ten minute walk from my lot to the good town library and a fifteen minute walk to the historic Taos town plaza, shops, and restaurants. The best (IMHO) restaurant (Michael's Kitchen) and an excellent Ale House with awesome burgers are also within 15 minute walk. An organic grocer as well as a Kroger's grocer are also easily walkable.
So, I think I'll be happy here.