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...and they all lived halfling ever after...

The story of how our earth-bermed house (aka “Hobbit Hole”) came to be is told here from my (Katie's) perspective. It would be quite different told by Sam. There would be no profanity, for one thing, and most likely no yelling, unless he was imitating me. I am over-emotional and Sam is under-emotional, which is a good match for us.

 

My telling of our story involves a lot of hand gestures and dramatic vocal inflections and sometimes includes intentional exaggeration. Sam’s telling is very matter-of-fact: we did this, then we did this, then Katie cried, then we did this. He is profoundly interesting--and witty and funny and intelligent and kind--and his dry presentation is quite useful when we talk about the “how” of the home, but you get my forthright, over-the-top, mystically-bent presentation for the “who, what, when, why.”

 

You’re welcome.

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Wish List

Outdoor Clothesline 

 

ALL THE LUMBER  (all of it!)

 

Solar Panels 

 

Energy Recovery Ventilator and/or AIr Exchanger

 

Reverse Osmosis System

cement for garage

How long Sam thought it would take to build the earth-bermed house: 4 months

 

How long I thought it would take to build the earth-bermed house: 6 months

 

How long it took to (mostly) build the earth-bermed house: 1 year

 

How much Sam thought it would cost:

less than $50,000

 

How much I thought it would cost:

more than $50,000

 

How much it has cost (so far, including gifts, barters, and the well): $65,000

 

Number of times Sam told me we would "probably be in the house in a month" between November and July:

at least 7 times

 

Number of times my 3 1/2 year old daughter asked if we were moving in the house "today??" on a given day:

at least 10 times

 

Number of times I thought Sam was a rock-star: 777,777

 

Number of times I felt completely overwhelmed: 365

 

Number of times I thought building the earth-bermed house was the wrong decision: 0

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