Life After A Fire

It has been just over two months since our house fire.  The outpouring of support from strangers from across the country has been so incredible, and has renewed my outlook that people are genuinely good. 
It has been an adjustment to say the least living out of a hotel room.  I have realized many things over the last two months, things that we don't realize we take for granted.  Such as counter space.  Yes counter space.  We currently have a kitchenette, that consists of a sink, a 2 burner stove top, a fridge, a toaster, a coffee maker, a microwave, 2 small cabinets, and two larger cabinets.  The counter space is all of 4 to 6 sqare feet.  We have a diningroom table that is 4 feet by 3 feet, with two chairs.  Cooking takes organization, and patience, especially when you have two very large dogs that want to be next to you when you are cooking, so yes, I miss my counter space, when we get back into our house, I will no longer take that for granted.

Another item I miss, is closet space, drawer space, and coat hangers.  Four people sharing 6 small drawers and two small closets, is fine when on vacation for a week, even two weeks, but long term, oh how I will enjoy having drawers I can call my own once again!  I found myself excited when Kohl's asked me if I wanted the hangers, I nearly jumped for joy over an additional 6 hangers.  Now I know I could very well go and buy some coat hangers, however the thought of lugging more things out of a hotel room when the time comes to move out is a dreadful thought, purchases have become a question of whether or not we truly NEED it or not. 

The best purchase we made since the fire, well that would have to be three large reuseable bags from Home Goods.  These bags are larger than your normal resuaeable shopping bag, and are a godsend when transporting dirty laundry, clean laundry, groceries, and odds and ends.  I think once we get back into the house, we will be using these more, and finally remembering to bring them with us when we go shopping, instead of saying, "oh well, next time I'll remember."

Being able to open the windows wide open, instead of only being able to open them up four inches.  I love fresh air, and when you can only open a window a few inches, you quickly realize just how much you enjoy the fresh air breeze through your home.  I think we will use the central air less often when back in the house. 

A couch with big fluffy pillows to curl up in when you are not feeling well.  What we have right now, does not resemble a couch, more of a love seat that is not meant to spend the afternoon on. 

And finally what I will no longer take for granted, three bathrooms!  Having to schedule and coordinate showers is frustrating, no longer can three of us shower at the same time, no it's one, then the next and so on.  I will savor a shower that's longer than 10 minutes.