A gift serves everybody in our family-Thanksgiving activity repo

As promised to participate in the hollaween and thanksgiving activity in MYSJ, a long time, I am considering for something or anything I could do to fulfill the original promise, and also to not betray myself. There are lots of topics I can write about or based on some facts to make up a touching story, even stories, but that is out of my style. To my feeling, the topic has to be related to thanksgiving, of course need to related to a personal experience, specifically, mine. OK, I made my mind up and here goes the story: a gift for everybody in our family.

 This is my wife’s idea: we are going to have a gift that will fit everyone in this family. Please stop here fore 3 seconds and think about: what is a gift that serves everyone’s joy if you plan to buy for your family? Our answer is: buying a new house. 

We lived in a townhouse before. The small community we lived is self-operated, being taken cared of by the members who live there. We have an annual meeting to decide the operating board members and therefore everybody knows each other. Everybody’s concern and opinion are seriously considered and addressed in the annual meeting. Correspondingly, the condominium law needs to be modified every year, adding new rules and regulation to the previous version. After years of accumulation, we have a best version of condominium law in the world. The astonishing point is that we are still continually improving the law to make it perfect by adding more detailed regulations. I am fine with it. However, my son was more constricted by the new rules and he started to hate the house he previously preferred and chose. Obviously, my son desperately needs a new house or even an old one, as long as he can get out of here!

Every woman likes a new big house, no exception with my wife. Then she would have more place to rearrange everything to her appetite. So my wife also needs a new house. 

I like new, big, every luxury house too, were the mortgage the same as the previous one or ever less. I do not actually need a new big house. However, I have shortcoming and weakness as a man, especially as a handyman with the desire to show off. Therefore I need a solution and a place to show off my skill, the talented ability. However, building a new house is out of the ability by one man, specifically to a man without any experience on building, that being out of my field. So a new house with an unfinished basement, without driveway, no landscaping will be suitable to me to make the inner desire to be fulfilled. Therefore, a house with forementioned properties would be a proper gift for a handyman, such as me. From that thanksgiving till now, during a period of one and half a year, by working on weekends and after dinner, I finished our 1500 SF basement by myself according to the blueprint designed by my son. The main accomplishments are: three bedrooms, one with a walk-in closet; a four-piece bathroom, all work done by myself; a living room finished with floor and a natural gas fireplace. I did not install the fireplace, which is not allowed by the code, but I finished the fireplace; paved a driveway, finished the front and back yards with grass and a greenhouse, installed fence. From the inner project I learned and practiced: framing, drywall, tapping and mudding, installing tile, baseboard, carpet and floor, spraying ceiling texture, pipe fitting, electrical works including outlets, three-way switch wiring, and recessed spot lights, installing interior doors, door trim and window trim, sanding, painting, insulating. From the exterior project: paving and exercising. If there is anyone have question about paving, asking me. I guarantee you will have a professional advice. For sure, the thing really count to me is the fulfillment of my desire as well as the applause from friends, my son, my wife, admitting my works are above the level of professional. Now I am confident that building a house from the ground is not a problem for me. Many skills were proved and developed and lots of knowledge learned after this innovation project finished. I am happy with the gift, and my deepest thanks go to my wife, my son and my friends.  By the way, if you have question about interior work in your house, please don’t hesitate to ask me. I would be glad to help. For sure it would be better if you can pay for the advice. Just kidding, it will be free, absolutely free.
 
(PS: Sorry for not presenting the pictures, otherwise it will be considered as making a show of myself. It is necessary to remain as a humble person. Thanks for reading.)