- Caulk the wagon and float?
- Attempt to ford?
- Wait until conditions improve?
- Pay the ferry?*
It’s becoming clear. A or B are fine choices – C is stupid. We could do any number of things to win the west, but sitting down and waiting? No gold. Avoiding renovations when we don’t feel like it won’t win us riches or move along this ugly game of Oregon Trail.
Problem: There’s plenty going on both socially and work-wise that mean we don’t necessarily want to rush home from work and get disgustingly dirty. Vancouver’s only gorgeous and warm for a split-second each year. We’re kissing goodbye to the good stuff, fast, and I’d way rather be outside.
Reality: Conditions will not be improving. (And how completely sweet will it be to have a nice, happy bedroom for the coming onslaught of rainy days?)
We had a schedule. I invented it, then I ignored it. The plan went out the window the night I hopped off the couch and started ripping off the living room wallpaper. Removing mirrors and tons of wood trim created 2 horror shows for walls and they both needed skim coating. Having planned to start in the bedroom all along, we took the proverbial 1 step forward, 2 steps back.
We need to get going. Like any child who’s ever sat, stunned into submission from the overwhelming choice at the start of Oregon Trail, we just need to press ‘go’. Anywhere. Any choice. Caulk it. Bring the doctor. Pack the ammunition. It doesn’t matter. It’s going to be a shit show. You’re going to die, horribly sick of buffalo meat, from dysentery no matter what.
How do you play the game? Should C ever be an option? If you’re the ‘grin and bear it’ sort – tell. Are projects meant to be all fun, all the time? Should they only be undertaken under perfect circumstances? Do you tow a line of moderation? Or is any progress is better than no progress, no matter what? (Honest answers – not pretty fables!)
* (In our game, D is stricken – paid help not an option).
###
Photo credit to Nelson94002 via Flickr Creative Commons
Hey, you want a s'more? Some more of what?
Hey, my name says which option I’d pick (C). Plus, I’m in the Lower Mainland too and the sun is peeking out today…for how long we don’t know. Enjoy it while you can, because the long months of dark and rain are coming!
(Love your blog. Can’t wait to see it in a year)
Thanks procrastamom! I’m your adoptive daughter, procrastadontwannadoihavetohowabouttomorrow? The sun is shining today – and, with a dubious glance out to sea, I think I’ll take that as my answer. Play now, work later.
Thanks ever so much, glad you’re reading along!
I would pick option one–jump right in. I feel lost if I don’t have a dozen projects going at once and overwhelming me so much I can’t sleep at night. According to my running to do list I have 28 projects that need to be done before the end of the year. Eight are actively going right now. I’ve worked on one so far today and will have worked on four more before I go to bed tonight.
I honestly don’t know if I could start one project and work on it and nothing else until I finished it. And if I only did the fun ones and waited until the timing was perfect nothing would ever get done. I think any progress is better than none–once it’s started I’m more likely to push to finish it, but if it’s the way it’s always been I might leave it longer.
28! That’s a very specific list. I like the rotating-door policy to keep things interesting.
I’m a procrastinator too. But then I’ll get a sudden urge to get a project done because I want to see the final results — seeing them in my head doesn’t count!!
Sometimes you just gotta put your head down and do it, even if you don’t want to do it.
I find it helps to write a list — even the small things — and to cross things off as you get them done. That’s why the small things are important to include — if you can’t handle a big job, do a small one and you still get the satisfaction of crossing something off your list
Kelly
Yes! Such truth in result-hunger being the main motivation.
I… I tend to put off house projects in favor of a social engagement, 100%. But, as time allows, I will jump into a project. The question is whether or not I finish it. My bathroom has been 1/2 done for a month now (and was 1/4 done for, like, 4 months before that!) Meanwhile, I have 3 holes in my walls from various projects and a window without any trim. Don’t even get me started on the outside.
I went out and got m’self a boyfriend to keep me on track. He comes in handy for that.
Haha – ohhh how very familiar. (Does the man cook as well!?)