This must be my 400th column in the 426 days since I rebirthed twoprops.net. Since then…
- my younger son has graduated from high school and started at university
- my older son has graduated from college and started a graduate program
- I’ve been diagnosed with thyroid cancer
- and had my thyroid surgically removed
- and been adjusting my dose of thyroid replacement hormone
- I moved over 2,500 miles across a big ocean to a 900 sq ft 111-year-old house
- We moved Luna the Big Dog™ to the island compound
- HA joined me at the island compound
- we lived with only a generator for power while awaiting our household goods shipment
- we built a garage to store our possessions when they arrived
- we slowly implemented a host of luxuries to turn the island compound into a site worthy of a world domination plan
- we put in a big solar plant with power enough to convert everything to electricity, including charging the car
- we installed our refrigerator with icemaker
- we installed our espresso machine
- we got a microwave oven
- we got our bed from the mainland with a BedJet heater
- I slowly rebuilt some of my networking/data center with extensions to manage our power resources
- we cleaned up the house, including removing a ton of mold and a century or so of accumulated cruft
- we installed our hot tub on its own deck
- we installed an electric water heater for instant hot water in the bathroom sink
- we put in a catchment water system
- we got the washer and dryer working — no more trips to the laundromat!
- we put in first a manual, and then an electric bidet seat
- we put six ceiling fans in the house, which run all the time for comfort and mold abatement
- we got a robotic vacuum
- we installed an electric gate opener
- we endured the 71-day odyssey of our car getting lost in shipping
- we’re working toward the goal of completely eliminating propane — right now, propane only heats water for the shower and kitchen sink, and the kitchen sink electric water heater is here but awaiting installation
- we have the parts for a large outdoor pavilion, awaiting us building a deck upon which to assemble it
- HA has found water aerobics, swimming, and Zumba classes and has made a few great friends there
- we have attended musical and cultural events here on the island
- HA has coordinated many changes to the landscaping, taking it from remarkable to amazing
- we’re finishing up the studio, which will be a guest house and work space separate from the main house
- I started testosterone to treat recurring profound fatigue, and it seems to be helping
- we installed stepping stones around the compound in anticipation of a rainy season that never came
- I recovered from a software bug and backup problems that deleted all of
twoprops.net - I created my first sourdough starter from island fauna
- we got beautiful fresh gravel on our driveway
- we re-built an old goat barn and converted it into a hen house and sheep shed
- the sheep have been here a few days
- the weeks-old chicks have been here two weeks and are moving into the the hen house today
- I brought up my old web sites as static sites
- I authored a front-page feature article in the local newspaper
- we ceiling-mounted our television
twoprops.net lives on and like the compound in which it is created, it keeps growing and defining itself. Our next big challenge will be to remodel the kitchen and bathroom while retaining the early-1900’s charm.
Here’s to 400 more!
—2p