The pros and cons of living in town

When JoEllen spoke to her mother in Los Angeles shortly after she was diagnosed with incurable cancer, she told Jo, “My days are numbered . . .

“. . . and so are yours.” (Marilyn was not without a biting sense of humor.)

And she was right: we don’t know the day of our death. Ever since then, neither of us has ever wished time to go faster.

When JoEllen was still working and under considerable pressure to produce a big event; or resolve a crisis in another country; or deal with incompetence in her organization; there were times when she would wish to get beyond the moment quickly.

But we both know our days are numbered, and even though they might still be counted in the tens of thousands, we just don’t know. So we make the best of every day, every moment that we can.

But gosh does Jo wish the house rebuild were finished!

While we have a great view here in town, this apartment leaves lots to be desired. The water for the shower, for instance, gives you a choice: decent pressure or hot. The kitchen tap gets tepid at best. There’s little prep space in the kitchen to make a decent braised short ribs let alone dressing chicken Kiev!

There’s no washing machine in the flat and the one back at the chata is out of commission until they turn the water back on. Who knows when that’ll be?

We have our friend and Scott’s tutor, Silvia to thank once again for her ingenuity in finding the only laundry service available in this part of Slovakia. They actually pick up and deliver! They came for two big bags from us yesterday. (We have no idea when they’ll return it all, nor the price of the service, but at least we’ll have some clean sheets and underwear someday soon.)

The neighborhood has little green grass outside fenced-in yards and gardens, and no parks to speak of for poor Sisi, who’s afraid to step out the door in the first place lest she have yet one more encounter with the monster bully dog.  

JoEllen has become quite fearless in her protection of Sisi.  She stands her ground and puts herself between the bully and her beloved doggy. (Not so brave if you recall the bully dog wears a muzzle.) She’s been plotting her next defense and has decided on an offensive maneuver: charging the bully dog first! (We’ll keep you posted on the outcome.)

(the bully dog's yard is on the left there)

There’s a grand old arboretum just across the street from our flat. Dogs are not allowed.

 We’ve been getting our exercise in town, walking up and down the cobbled lanes in search of the nearest “lekareň” (drug store) and local wine shop.  The fun thing is, (which we will do as soon as we figure out how to leave Sisi in the flat alone without her barking her head off and angering all of our neighbors in the entire building), we will walk to all the local restaurants and cafes.  Or perhaps as soon as the weather offers something warmer than snow or rain or blustery winds, we’ll take Sisi with us to sit outside in the sunshine.

Perhaps we’ve been living isolated in our little chata for too long away from the delights of city dwelling to appreciate the advantages we have here:   car headlights shining into the bedroom at three a.m.; cars hurling around blind corners just waiting for a poor unsuspecting pooch to step off the curb for a bloody mangling; cobblestone streets whacking the bejeezuss out of our car’s suspension.

Sisi in her very un-poodle-like haircut seems to be a hit with passersby, though. It’s one of the things that drew us to this part of the world: Slovaks love dogs. Their folksongs center around one of three things:  their mother, their unfaithful woman or their faithful dog (men sing these songs).

Why just yesterday we took her for a walk down to the main drag to pop into a local convenience shop. Both the owner and her daughter became instantly fond of Sisi, though our pooch is still quite shy of strangers, having grown from puppyhood in an isolated environment.

Scott has declared this post too negative. JoEllen needs to get it out of her system. Then she can get on with things, like ordering the tile for the new kitchen and bathrooms, the new corner shower, the stunning copper kitchen ceiling lamp, paying the carpenter who is making our new kitchen windows; think about what’s for dinner. . .

(We chose the middle tile for the kitchen floor)

(Carol, you'll get your translucent/semi-opaque glass, for privacy!)

(Real copper, to compliment the real copper pots we have)

Comments

[Carol]

It's great to know how much you will REALLY appreciate your privacy when you return to your totally remodeled Chata! I hear that the bark collars that use citronella are quite effective (Jason and Lora and Ann have all attested to this product). Here's hoping your laundry is returned and not collected by the local 2nd hand shop to re-sell. LOL!
And thanks for thinking of me when ordering the new corner shower. I promise to return so I can use it - as well as checking out the new bathroom on the mid/main level and the new kitchen! Woo-hoooooo!!
Love you both and miss you very much.

[Angele Switzler]

Oh for God's sakes, you pair of sissies! What is it, week one or two into the reno? and one of you has been laid out on the couch with the dog and the vapors for ten days, and one of you is already chomping at the bit and complaining about current counter space? (doesn't look like all that much less than the chata btw) Already? Really? I can hardly wait for the six month rant. What's that you said? Ya, right. Don't kid yourself.

Just razzing you, of course. Hope you are sitting in front of your big windows with huge glasses of wine, enjoying the city lights.

[Karen]

I can relate to all you say about the 'isolation' of being in the country. You didn't really say how the work is coming at the chata...looking forward to a post about that. It will be so wonderful when it is done that you may think all of this is worth it!

[Colby Moore]

Living in town has its pros and cons. Nonetheless, it really just depends on the person. If you're used to living in the busy city, you might find living in a town a bit solemn and quiet. It seems your pet dogs are still hesitant and afraid of their new place. But they'll get used to it eventually. People are usually like that as well. :)