In the fall of 2003, my wife, Joanne, and I, both in the 73
years old category, moved from Aptos to Morgan Hill.
In the fall of 2003, my wife, Joanne, and I, both in the 73 years old category, moved from Aptos to Morgan Hill.
We moved to one of those “private” communities that offered a feeling of privacy. Our new home was Mediterranean style. All the windows exhibited “plantation” shutters.
And, we loved the stuccoed outside presentation. However, we just didn’t see the problems when we bought. We didn’t think there would be problems with a 15-year old house. We didn’t see all the superficial fixes, either. All the quick-fix “patch-up” jobs.
After buying, as we looked more closely at the property, we found many problems. We found “really ‘Mickey Mouse’ repairs or the required repairs were not even done.
Obviously, remodeling was in order. After several interviews and estimates from several contractors, we finally found an exceptional one. He had a recommendation from our daughter’s in-laws. For them, he had added on to their home; a family room, fireplace, bathroom and bedroom.
For us, he not only fabricated a bathroom and powder room designed by Joanne, but also my bathroom designed by me. (That is, completely gutting these areas and building from the bare walls.) Joanne’s design included a shorter wall bathtub (13’’ high, usually 17” ) as well as a new tall toilet fixture with special wall and floor tile and perimeter walls of a new color, “Sour Dough,” a kind of “orange blush.”
Mine included a complete tiled shower (where tub had been) as well as new white floor tile with green grout and white toilet fixtures.
My bathroom’s new paint color is “Willow Herb,” a quaint green you love or quickly flee. Both powder room and my bathroom received new counter tops with integrated sinks. Both received new light fixtures, mirror, and more … the works. All this was fine and good, but there was a down side.
We had to share one bathroom for a month – mine – while hers was being remodeled and hers while mine was being remodeled. It was not a happy experience. Joanne prefers baths. I prefer showers. She has not had a shower in memorable history.
No matter, I have not had a bath in the last 40 years. She does not appreciate my shower spray all over the tub. (Although there were shower curtains.) She says that I make messes.
She really doesn’t like to share. And, I really don’t like to be chastised. (Actually, I do tend to try to wipe down my spray with a towel.) Oh, this “month long” one bathroom sharing was hardly tolerable.
Nevertheless, as I remember the 1930’s and 1940’s, my family’s big “white house,” had five bedrooms but only one bathroom. Actually, the bathroom had been added on to this 1907 cube in the 20’s. However, the house always seemed to be filled with friends or relatives, from off the farm, rooming as they went to business school; aunts and uncles rooming until times got better; and grandmother who lived with us until she died at 92.
My home in Oklahoma was always filled with love and many, many people. But, only one bathroom. Fifteen or more years later, Joanne and I married and we rented a two-bedroom duplex while I attended college in Oklahoma. Joanne had been married previously and had two children. Thus, four of us lived there.
And, we had only one bathroom. Before I graduated from the university, we had our son, Jeff. So, we moved to a four-room duplex, built with a hall in the middle. During tornado season, the five of us would hide in this central hall beside the one bathroom. Buying a three bedroom close to my first teaching job in Pasadena we had our twin sons. The seven of us shared one bathroom.
Fortunately, by the time our last daughter was born, we had purchased a four-bedroom, two-bath home for the eight of us. (Although through the following years, we had larger homes with three bathrooms and five bedrooms.) Times have certainly changed.
Today, Joanne and I know we just can’t share one bathroom for long. One month was too long. Fortunately, we now have our own bathrooms, again. And, life is good in Morgan Hill.
Burton Anderson, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, has lived in California for 47 years. He has a background in the aerospace industry. He may be reached at ba****@*ol.com The Board of Contributors is comprised of local writers whose views appear on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
