How Do You Do It?

That is a loaded question…. But it is the most frequently asked question by those new to or not in “the lifestyle” More specifically, the question is “How do you do it, how can you be with your spouse 24/7?”

Life on the road is so different than our prior lives. Work separated us 10-12 hours a day during the week. Barrel races and hunting/fishing trips separated us many of the weekends but going from that to rarely being apart came quite naturally for us. We never had a question that this might be an issue. It is really a common theme of nearly all of the couples we have met on the road. We have yet to run into a couple who do not seem like they are best friends and show any signs of issues in this area. I guess if this were an issue those individuals either never went on the road or did not last very long.

Oh, everyone needs their time alone, even us. That’s why I don’t go with Barb when she does the laundry, or the shopping. I will even go so far as give her alone time by sitting in a deer or duck blind. Selfless I know, but that’s just how much I care about Barb and giving her some space.

These past 6 weeks, when we started building the house have been the most stressful in the past 5 years. In fact we have had couples who have been living in their RV fulltime for years ask us "How do you do it? I could never build a house with my spouse!" Working together side-by-side on something new to both of us, something we are not totally confident with is just a little more than stressful. Truthfully, the first two weeks were rough but the past 4 have been almost argument free! If only she would realize that I am right all the time, we would not have a problem!

Speaking of couples who seem to tolerate each other just fine in 400 square feet. Steve and Deb McCormick stopped by this week for a few days. They were going to stay right on our property with us but recent rains left the driveway a mess. As it ended up the driveway dried up and they could have stayed here after all. Oh well, we had a good time regardless.

Their first full day here was Saturday which coincided with Kevin and friend Tom arriving from Wisconsin. The main reason for Kevin and Tom’s trip was to drop off a semi-trailer filled with windows and other goodies for his house. But as long as they were here they spent a day helping put up the remaining trusses over the garage. Thanks to Debbie for the pictures!

Kevin is driving the skidsteer while Barb guides the trusses with a rope

It was an absolutely miserable day for working outside let alone putting up trusses. Throughout the day we had rain, hail and 40+mph winds.

Hard to see but that is me perched on the left wall, Tom is in the middle and 

Steve is on the scaffolding

The finished product!

Kevin said that if he were home there was no way he would have set trusses in that kind of wind but we did not have a choice and were able to get it done. That is a huge milestone for us as it was one thing that Barb and I could have never done by ourselves.

After the work was all done the 6 of us sat in the rig, had dinner and medicated our weary bones with a variety of remedies that Steve brought over or were in our liquor cabinet. Early the next morning Kevin and Tom were on the road headed back to Wisconsin and Barb, Deb, Steve and I headed to our favorite fishing hole.

Since it was Mother’s Day Steve and I were the true gentlemen and let them catch the biggest fish.

Barb caught several nice ones

Not to be left our Deb landed this beauty!

We then treated them to the Hill City Brewery tour which consisted of The Firehouse, Sick N Twisted and The Miner Brewing Co.

Then it we headed back to our place where we had Chili Verde that Steve had put in the crock pot before we left.  That was followed by cocktails around the campfire. Their visit was short but we had a great time!

With all the trusses set we were ready to get started on the roofing! Not quite yet, I needed to cut the tails on each of the trusses, install sub-facia and put hurricane screws into each of the trusses. While I did that Barb planted 50 trees that she had ordered from the county extension office.  

Trees planted, trusses secured now we could start the roofing. But how to get the sheets of roofing 16' up in the air so we could get started? Thank goodness for Kevin's skidsteer. We put 6 sheets at a time on the basket and lifted it high enough where we could just slide them onto the roof. The first couple were a struggle. In fact Barb sent me for a time out so I could readjust my attitude but once we got our rhythm we were moving pretty fast and by the end of the day we had one half of the house section with roofing on it!

Whooped but smiling Barb admires her work!

The weather was brutal again but in the opposite direction. We have the craziest weather here! In the last week we have had rain, snow, hail and hot scorching sun. It just cannot make up its mind.

Plus we have more guests arriving this week so we will have some help as well as an excuse to set down the tools and play a little as well!