After Months...The Home Office Is Finally Up And Running

When we were looking for a new home, we needed a few things. We wanted a room for each child and because there were three left at home, that didn't seem that big of a requirement. And we needed a home office. I had been telecommuting almost two years when covid hit and I made the decision long ago that if I can help it, I don't want to work away from home again.

The home office was what we needed.

The home we chose did not have the rooms, but it had room to grow. No problem--I can work in the garage. I knew this because I worked in an unfinished basement for over two years. And so I worked in the garage. And things went well until it got cold. 

Too cold.

Since the basement was not yet finished, I moved into the master bedroom. This had its advantages--warmth, for one. And, I could literally roll out of bed and log on. And so I worked in the master bedroom.

Last week the basement was finished. The boys moved downstairs, my daughter moved out of the smallest bedroom in the house into the larger room next door, and I hauled in the big desk from the garage and set everything up. This morning, I rolled out of bed and went into another room and worked my shift.

I know it's not the biggest journey, garage to bedroom to office, but it represents a months--even years--of transition, a lot of changes. It's not a room built specifically for an office with double doors and built-in shelving, but I don't care. It's a place dedicated to providing for the family. Many have helped us reach this point and I'm grateful for that help. Tomorrow, it's off to work I'll go...only now, to the right room.

Thank Goodness...For Warm Pants!

One of the presents I got for Christmas from my mother-in-law last year was a pair of bluejeans. These aren't just any pair of jeans...they're special.

In fact, they're winterized.

The pants have a felt lining, all the way down. Why would I need such a pair of enhanced pants? Because I work in an unheated basement, that's why.



Last year was my first year working in the basement. The way my desk was situated, well...it was cold down there. It was so cold at times, I had to wear a coat and fingerless gloves. I didn't complain--I did have a space heater and with all the layers, I was warm enough. Plus, I was working at home, so that was great.

In the summer, we went through and re-organized the basement, and by "re-organized," I mean, threw out a bunch of stuff. We tossed so much stuff that I was able to re-orient my desk against two walls. The reason we did this was more to take advantage of the space, but I found out this winter that because the desk is against the wall, the space heater I have warms up the area so much better. I'm sure engineers or people who know more about these things can explain why. All I know is, it's been a much warmer winter for me. The pants have definitely helped.



My mother-in-law worries about us, and she worries that I'm warm enough in the basement. She found these jeans and they've been so great for me this winter. I don't even think about being warm enough down there (and down there...). I didn't even know pants like this existed. I do now, and I'm glad for that knowledge.

I pretty much wear these everyday. We're in the coldest month of the year, so I won't be wearing them everyday in a few weeks, I'd imagine. And so, they'll go in the closet, and won't be touched again for several months. And when the temperatures drop and Ol' Man Winter comes a calling, I'll be ready. Thank goodness for warm pants!

My First Cold Telecommute...

When you live in a climate where it freezes outside during the year, there's that one day when you know there'll be more cold days than warm ones. For many, they worry about the first frost, a cold that kills crops and signals the changing of the season.

Last night was that time for us.

I knew the cold weather was coming. This autumn's different for me. For the first time in twenty-one years, I'll be working at home through the winter. And that's something to consider when you're working in an unheated basement.

When we built the house fifteen years ago, we knew we wouldn't be finishing the basement--we needed a place to store stuff. We did put up insulation, but we never put in any heating or a/c vents. Over the years we've moved stuff in and moved stuff out of the storage room and we didn't need it to be "comfortable" in there. That changed once I got the assignment to work at home.

I first began working in the basement in the summer and in the mostly underground basement room, things were nice. It was cool when temperatures outside hovered around 100º. I'm not sure how cold it got last night--possibly freezing--but it was a tad chilly when I clocked in.

When I set up my office, I knew I'd need a heater. I found one online, and another in a thrift store. As long as I'm bundled up in layers, it's okay to be in the basement.

When I found out I was I was going to be working at home, I thought about how nice it would be not having to navigate the roads in the winter. I still look forward to staying at home when things get really bad. Happy to say that the first cold day (and they're going to get colder...) was a toasty success.