A House Named ALOHA

A Chronicle:
"The palest ink is better than the best memory." 

>>  The Aloha House Fotolog 

July 15, 2003: Sharing the Joy: With an e-mail to dear friends, who formerly lived across the street from our home named Heaven in Big Bear and who are soon to be living in their new dream home in Oregon:  

Jeff, Oscar, Lucy & Claudia

Aloha! 

We had a lovely evening over at Beth's and Reg's (beautifully decorated, I might add) and we all wondered how you two were. Now we know. Hoorah! Moving in two days with no TV or Internet. What a concept! Sounds like honeymoon time to me. Enjoy.

Our house saga has already had its first Eureka! moments. We met with the first potential builder and left that meeting thoroughly discouraged. Lots of building going on up in BB, and while he seemed interested, he was honest in saying that meeting our time sensitive deadline of "roof up and house sealed" (and therefore energies sealed in) by January 4 was going to be a challenge for him. 

Earth energies and their cyclical shifts wait for no man or womb-man. I had to be honest with myself: If our deadline couldn't be met, then the house was not going to happen. After the deadline, spaces with positive energies would swap places with those with not-positive energies. I think living in the laundry room, bathrooms and stairwell would get old fast... 

It seemed like we were swimming against an unseen current. I've learned to take that as a sign to bail out. Experience has shown us that it is better not to force things into happening. 

That afternoon in the cool of the pine trees' shade, I was experiencing more than a soupcon of doubt when I came across a Big Bear Weekend newspaper ad with our realtor's face on it. Cindy (Pearson) got us our Fawnskin property -- lo and behold, she was endorsing a GREEN builder. 

And that is how Fred Westcott and his wife Denise came into our lives. As a couple and as individuals, we clicked with them immediately. So many parallel life experiences and philosophies. And such nice, down-to-earth,unassuming people. :)

They have already built two energy-efficient homes in the Sugarloaf area; in the process of putting the finishing touches on a Fox Farm, $449K house which we toured and loved -- outside, it was one of the hottest Big Bear days of the year, yet inside, being well-insulated, it was cool without a/c or fans and better yet, heavenly quiet; and also in the middle of building yet another house closer to the lake. http://www.californiahavenhomes.com/ 

I was already sold on green building before I began designing the house, but in short order I realized that the contractors/builders/engineers in Big Bear seemed to view it as a concept ahead of its time. I had resigned myself to what is, telling myself, "It is after all Big Bear." 

I think the Architect upstairs had other plans for our Aloha house. Our lives are 'in flow' when things seem to naturally fall into place -- often unexpectedly so and in ways better than we would have imagined. This feels right.

Not only are Fred and Denise confident that they will meet the deadline, but they think they can handily beat the deadline by having the roof up by Thanksgiving! Their building package fulfills our every wish AND MORE for environmentally sensitive building (solar water heating, radiant floor heating, high R values, recycled and non-toxic materials without out-gassing, etc.). 

The next working day, Fred had our engineering guys send up the plans to his engineer IN OREGON to be adapted to green building specs and standards. We like his time efficiency, sense of expediency and focus! 

At any rate, we are SO EXCITED! You know the feeling... 

Thank you for sharing your house saga with us. Doing so helped us to stay enthused and focused on our house plans all these months, and so in no small way, you've contributed greatly to our dream house-building. I don't know if I've shared this Web site with you. This week I hope to begin the chronicle section. I hope to be as faithful with updates as you have been. 

We continue to miss you two like crazy. We can't wait to see you two in February when you return for Ed's birthday (he's talking about it!) You are welcome to use the cottage as our guests. The rentals have been brisk for it since we switched agencies, so let us know which weekend and we'll block it off ahead of time. Oscar and Lucy will wonder why they're on the other side of the fence! 

We are certainly sharing your joy of moving into your dream home. Although you'll be offline, know that we will be sending you housewarming blessings, not with our fingers and electrons, but with our hearts. 

Love you and hugs to you and the dog-kids, 
L & P

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