Work Hard, Play Hard
- Bill
- Jun 30, 2017
- 3 min read
You know those books where one chapter ends just as the plot gets thick and the characters are either about to face a disastrous turn or rise above and conquer their greatest enemy… and then the author starts a new chapter with a completely different thread of the story? She forces us readers to wait, patiently reading to see how our hero and heroin fare, all the time knowing that something in this new thread is informing us about our characters, laying context for the plot, eventually merging together at some future point?
Well, that is what we are about to do for you.
When we started the Staples of Home project over 3 months ago, the only thing we knew is that we were excited to transform an abandoned house into something awesome. We didn’t really know what that would take, but we went all in and approached each day willing to put our shoulder to the wheel, work hard, and learn along the way. It has been awesome. I honestly can’t recall a time when we have learned so much, so fast, and worked so physically hard.
The results are just starting to show and we’re proud of the work we’ve done so far. But we’re also exhausted and need a break. Once the self-move was complete, we drove to Utah to return our Sequoia and take some extra furniture there to put into storage. It felt great to sit in the car all day and chat, without having to lift boxes or furniture, or use power tools all day long.
And then when we got back, still exhausted, we listened to our bodies and slept in, went to a few movies, watched Netflix, and tried to heal the sore muscles, tendons and joints. Over the ensuing week we’ve enjoyed so many kind gestures from neighbors, family and friends. My sister generously took us out to lunch after our move to celebrate, and then picked our son up from the airport while we were in Utah and fed him a delicious home cooked dinner. Friends took us out to eat at the fancy new restaurant in Duvall the final night of our move and splurged on us with a delicious dinner. Another good friend asked if he could come help out for a half day on our project, and when I explained we were taking a break, he took me out to lunch instead and patiently listened to all my stories. One neighbor brought over iced lemonade on an especially hot day as we dug in the yard on one of the rare spurts of work we’ve done the past few weeks, and another neighbor offered her empty garden bins to save us money on our overstuffed ones. Many have waved and said hello from the street or online with smiles and words of kindness and support. These gestures, big and small, mean more than you know. Our bodies heal themselves, but our souls need you. Thank you.
Before we resume our Staples of Home project, however, we’re going on “vacation”, Staples style. We’re going to cycle Europe.
This will be our second long distance cycle tour, the first just last year when we rode our bikes about 1,000 miles from Duvall, WA to Lehi, Utah. This time, we’re flying to Frankfurt, Germany and will cycle south along the river Rhine on the Germany/France border until we reach Lake Constance near Switzerland, where many famous cycling paths meet. From here we’ll follow our hearts for as long as we have time before returning home. That is literally all we have planned: no hotels booked, no tourist center tickets bought, no firm schedule in place. We’ve learned the life of a cycle tourist, when your body is your engine, is best lived day by day, fully in the moment. You can read more about our plans here.
I’ve long believed in and sought to live one of the inspiring quotes of my youth by Henry David Thoreau: “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” That is what we seek. That is what we wish for you this summer.
If you’re interested, follow our summer cycle tour on www.staplesadventure.com. Stayed tuned for more on the Staples of Home project later this summer.