1. You have a painting belt. John actually owns a belt reserved just for painting. We learned quickly that paint splatters can permanently ruin clothes, so we keep a set of dedicated painting outfits: one summer set (shorts and a tee) and one winter set (jeans and a sweatshirt). That keeps our regular clothes intact and prevents an entire drawer from becoming the “painting clothes” drawer. Early on John managed to get paint on one of his belts, and now that belt is a permanent part of both his summer and winter painting gear. He claims he can’t work efficiently if his pants keep sliding down while he’s rolling, and honestly, I agree.
2. The first person to rub your baby belly is a Home Depot employee. This really happened. Because I have a short torso and my genes, my bump showed very early in pregnancy. I’d heard stories about strangers touching pregnant bellies, but until that day only John had. While we were at Home Depot picking up supplies, a cashier we know well—someone who feels more like family since we practically live at the hardware stores—noticed and congratulated me by giving my belly a reassuring rub. I didn’t mind at all. We have friendly relationships with staff at several stores, so it felt natural. The first non-husband hand to touch my belly? A Home Depot cashier—maybe worth a note in the baby book.
3. Four of the eight kitchen drawers are for tools and painting supplies. It’s true. One drawer holds silverware, two are designated junk drawers, and another stores plastic bags, tin foil, and wax paper. The remaining four drawers contain everything from hammers and screwdrivers to sandpaper, rollers, and paint trays. People say the kitchen is the heart of the home—apparently our tools have claimed a part of that heart.
4. Your eight-pound chihuahua isn’t fazed by saws or hammers, but is scared of almost everything else. Over the years Burger has become unfazed by the cacophony of construction—saws, hammers, and the general chaos of tearing walls down and rebuilding. Yet the tiniest noise, like a rustling leaf outside, will startle him. He’ll actually fall asleep to the pounding and clatter that accompany our projects, while being alarmed by the quietest sounds.
5. There’s no limit to the uncomfortable things you’ll do for home improvement. We’ve put up with a lot. We’ve showered outside with icy hose water when the shower was dismantled. We’ve slept on an air mattress in the den while floors were refinished. We survived 113 days without a functional kitchen while assembling a new one. We’ve woken up early on holiday mornings to get to Ikea. Renovating feels a bit like an endurance challenge—oddly exhausting but rewarding. We love our house, and we’ll go to great lengths to make it better. It’s a little bit of a sickness, and we’re weirdly proud of it.
What about you? Do you deserve a badge of insanity for your commitment to DIY projects? Have you endured anything especially strange or trying for the sake of home improvement? Share your stories—we’d love to hear them.