Two years in, the cabin continues to kick the snot out of me. It is time to admit that this project is larger than I initially thought. This comes as no surprise to Dave.

His hopeful words: you have to imagine what it will look like in another two years. We have made a lot of progress this summer.

What he probably wants to say: Did you seriously think it would only take a year? Were you looking at the same rotting floors, endless vermin poop and drug-induced electrical installation that I was? Have you seen the soaring prices of materials?

But progress has been made. I have come to terms with the scope of the project and the fact we are most likely another full year away from any sort of occupancy.

As the saying goes, what a good problem to have.

One Mighty Fine Poop Tank

Since buying the cabin two years ago, the decision to install well and septic were sticking points. Dave was a firm YES. I wasn’t convinced they were necessities. These systems are big money. After hemming and hawing for two years, I agreed that Bert the Outhouse’s novelty was wearing thin and it would be nice to wash my hands properly instead of running down to the lake after each visit to Bert.

Excellent! Dave said. Until he saw that prices for these services had risen 40%.

The well went in this spring. We were quoted 303 feet which is the area’s average. We lucked out and struck gold at 205 feet. They dug exactly where the local farmer had told us to dig a year earlier. Smart guy.

Septic went in this summer. Dave wanted to be there for the install so he took his summer holidays and lived in the trailer for 11+ days. He worked alongside Yves, who installed the septic tank for us and then took it upon himself to transform the land around the cabin, including decorative boulder placement. Dave swore Yves could operate heavy machinery while sipping a coffee and eating a sandwich. That’s what results from 40+ years of practice. Utter coolness.

When elated and smelly Dave finally arrived home, Rumi nearly lost his poodle mind. The scents that had percolated for nearly two weeks were enough to send any dog into a bliss-induced coma.

Yves told us it is customary to have a toilet party when septic is installed. The first flush is celebrated with family and friends and a whole lotta booze. A nice variation on the east coast kitchen party. I don’t know if this is just a Quebec custom but I like it. Indoor plumbing is something to be celebrated. Although we are a ways away from a proper toilet flush, we are confident it will be all the sweeter after the wait. When I shared that with Yves, he just looked at me funny. Maybe something got lost in translation.

Homecoming Giveaway!

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate homecoming in every sense of the word. It is a time to enjoy the bounty of the summer season and prepare the nest for the upcoming change. A good time to reflect either alone or amongst family and friends. It is therefore appropriate to have another karma cabin giveaway! The chosen book couldn’t be more fitting, and it is written by a personal friend:

Coming Home is an autobiographical collection of poems about Tu’s immigration story from Vietnam to Canada as a child, during the collapse of French Indochina and the resulting civil war. Tu’s writing, and the accompanying illustrations, capture the healing that can only result from truth-telling. To journey back in time with eyes wide open is a uniquely human test of bravery. Tu, cheers to your courage.

Just leave a comment, or send me a message to put your name in the draw. As tradition dictates, I’ll have my good-natured neighbor draw the winning name from a winter-ready toque. Jamie is always good for a laugh and is famous for his sayings that he needs to capture in his own book: The Wisdom of Jamieism or Phraseology à la Jamie.

Friends, from our imperfect house to yours, we raise a glass and toast your health and happiness. More karma cabin updates to follow, including the fact that I stupidly volunteered to help out the lake association and, according to the latest newsletter, have earned myself a new title: Communications Director.

Good Karma Cabin Lesson #18: Things take the time they take. You do not understand all the moving parts so be chill with the mystery. Just ask any dog. They get it.