Monday morning, one of the people that I have come to see as part of my tribe, tried to ask me a question. As with most questions in my life currently, it was about our building. Did you ever regret….- she started, and got no further, as I was already vehemently shaking my head, saying: No. Never. She looked at me, a wee bit bewildered, and said: you do not know what I was going to ask you! Right she was. I had no idea. Frankly, my standard reply to each and every question asked at this stage, is: No. Never. There is an explanation for it.

You see, there are – when it comes to completely upsetting your very ordinary life, three types of people out there. You have those that talk about it endlessly, but they never go into action. They will grudgingly tell you how you are living their dream (no, I am not responsible for your dreams) and how they wish they could, but they never do.

The next group, well, they walk the talk. They strike out, and they make it happen. Do you remember me telling you about that very clever person who said: Change is exciting at the start, messy in the middle, and rewarding at the end? He did not give a timeline. Messy in the middle can be as long as a piece of string. Now this group of people get to the messy bit, and it is here that they discover how long a piece of string is. These are the people who set out on that adventure, only to turn back at some point, and try to resume their old lives where they left off. I have yet to hear one of these stories having a happy ending.

Then there is the last group. The group where Colin and I find ourselves at the moment. You see, we did it all. We packed up our comfortable life. We stepped outside of our very secure, suburban comfort zone. We dreamed the dream and are making it happen. We drank the Cool Aid. And now, there is no turning back.

But, back to the question. What Tribee wanted to know was: would it not have been easier to buy an existing house and then convert it to what we want? No. Never. Have we been asked this question before? More times than I have fingers to count it on. It certainly would have taken away the 8 month delay our friends at Eskom were so generous to share with us. It certainly would have taken away the frustration of being told that the concrete will be there by Monday. (Incidentally, I have to mention here, we were made this commitment some time in January. I believe the concrete will now indeed be on site this coming Monday – 4 months later). It would have taken away the frustration of working with people, who are desperate for employment, until they receive their first salary and then never return. Yes. It would have been so much easier. But! Would it have been as much fun? Now that is the question. Imagine me writing a blog about converting a building. Today we knocked down a wall. Last week we also knocked down a wall. Next week, we are planning to knock down another wall. No. Never!

Instead, very many months down the road, Oh Boy! – Do I have stories to tell. How many of you have had a phone call from a highly placed Eskom person volunteering to help you with all your electricity problems, providing I stop writing “scathing” letters to the press. How many of you have learnt that not every person out there walks to the beat of an ethical drum, and will do what they can to exploit you? How many of you, in dealing with such a person, found themselves saved by the bell? How many of you can look at yourself as you were two years ago, and proudly know that there was more to your substance than you ever imagined? Was there an easier way of doing things? Absolutely! Would it have been worth it? No. Never.

Right now, I find myself in a place where I do not want to be, but where I have to be. Let me explain. All those people who believe I am living their dream, you are right. I am. I live in the most beautiful town, with friendly people – the type who stop to help you when your car breaks down. I lie in bed and listen to the sea at night. I wake up and smell the kelp forests. I am surrounded by natural beauty that can only be found on a postcard. I am blessed beyond measure. But it is not where I want to be. This past weekend, we were on our mountain, looking at the progress around the house. Colin is there almost daily. I do not go too often, purely because I would rather be surprised by the progress made, where Colin is more involved in the detail. It is only when I stand in the house that I fully realise what an exceptional creation it is and how every detail was thought through with purpose. That is where I want to be.

Frank Sinatra did say it so well:

“There were times, I’m sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up, and spit it out

I faced it all,

And I stood tall

And did it my way!”

Would I have done it any other way? No. Never.