Renovations and Marriages

It is said that renovations are very hard on marriages. Even my cousin called me the other day wondering if perhaps she was being needlessly mean to her brand new relationship by putting it through massive renovations in their new house. Later that same afternoon, I went to a BBQ with my SEP gang and when we brought up the fact that we were doing renovations, every couple got this kind, soft look of understanding in their eyes.

Of course, I didn't think it would affect my relationship. Not until I started to lay laminate floor. And laying laminate floor in a house built in 1920 where the concept of 'flush' or a 'straight line' does not exist. We started in the office on Saturday night (you find as a couple with a new house that your idea of fun, Saturday night plans is to work on your house). I estimated that it wouldn't hardly take us an hour to lay the laminate in our tiny 10x10 office. All shiny and happy we set off to change our flooring forever.

It should have set me off when we immediately didn't understand the directions printed on the box. They were vague and open to interpretation...which means that both of us saw things differently. Start in the left corner, it told us. Left relative to what, I wanted to know. It was obvious to Leon and not obvious to me. So started the conflict. The next argument erupted a few minutes later when we didn't know what to do with an in-the-way phone cord. Cut it, I told my husband. Cutting it is a bad idea, replied he. Hmmmmm, Argue, rinse, repeat. By midnight we had laid about five strips of laminate and were exhausted. In the end, it took us seven hours to lay the office. Like giving birth, though, the minute we were finished all memories of anger and pain washed away and we ecstatically embraced at the joy over our new floor. Curt barbs and sarcasm was replaced with kisses and hugs and an eager plan to start in on the living room the very next day. Voluntary amnesia.

Luckily, we are verbal and we use words to jab through our frustrations, never leaving any awful residue. And our floors do look great. But yes, my conclusion is that renovations are not for the weak of spirit. Or the easily offended. Or a couple already on the verge of wanting to punch each other.

You are all invited to come and see our floors. Just head on the #1 and drive until all you see is sky. By the time you get here, perhaps we will have started on the landscaping...