Impulsive or Contemplative?

In recent weeks, I have been spending a lot of time and energy on the RGH's new office. We have a spare room that hasn't been used in quite awhile. When all your kids leave home and you can't downsize in the middle of a housing crisis, you end up with more rooms than you really need. 

I have had a TV and some toys in there for the grand boys to use but the RGH has no office. In fact, besides the garage, his nightstand and an easy chair, the RGH had no space that is his. We women understand this. The house is ours. Men do not understand, but accept it. Men want women to be happy. Happy women yell less. But enough about me.

So, I decided for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, I would make the spare room an office for the RGH. His very own room. He is really excited about this. He can study our ever declining stock portfolio and 401K somewhere besides his lap. I am happy because I have no idea what to get him for our anniversary and I will no longer be subjected to the click, click, click of his mouse while I am watching Army Wives on Lifetime TV. Did I actually admit I watch Army Wives? Oh, man!

Anyway, I was working on some ideas and shopping for a desk that accommodates a person on each side. That way, I could join the RGH in Internet-dom, when he wanted company. (Which is always, in the world of MaryC, It's all about Me.) I could not find a desk that was wide enough for two but not too long for the room. One of our family members suggested hitting a few furniture stores to look for something really 'wonderful' for his office. To me, something wonderful would be from the thrift store. To this family member, it would be from Architectural Digest.

Here is where the title of this post comes in. This particular person is very impulsive when thinking of a purchase. They decide to do something and then they go out and get whatever they need/want to accomplish the task. Later, they LOVE what they have done/bought/redecorated or they will begin plotting the next change to 'fix' whatever did not work. It is the 'instant gratification' that is motivating to this person. They thrive on it. And that's cool, for them.

But the RGH and I are more contemplative in our style of 'shopping'. Really, it isn't even just shopping. We go over and over things before we make decisions. I have measured that room every which way. Plotted out different ways to arrange the room, looked through the house for items that can work for him or things that can be re-purposed in some way to use in the office. Can I paint this bookshelf to work? Will this table be wide enough to hold his printer? I have shopped everywhere, including thrift stores for a desk that will work. I study everything.

Our family member keeps calling and asking if the office is ready for viewing. Are you kidding? I have only been studying on it for two weeks. I haven't done anything except take all the stuff out of it and pile it in the living room floor. Just deciding what to toss, what to keep and what to donate is a big commitment. This could take a year to complete. She is appalled by my tortoise pace of interior design but she has kept it to herself.

I ended up finding a small dining table to use for a desk. It's perfect. Wide enough for two people to work on but only five feet long. We are using our own photographs framed in black for the walls. Most of the frames will be frames we already have, painted black. Short bookcases are getting a new home. I gave up a white wire shelf in my studio for his printer to go on in the closet and I am using a short bookshelf that doesn't match his stuff to replace the shelf. I don't care because my room is an art studio. Nothing is supposed to match. 

It's coming along but we are taking our time. We like our way because we usually find ways to do it cheaper, greener and often with more satisfaction. There is nothing worse than running out and getting something in a hurry and finding it somewhere cheaper a week later. (Or worse, someone tells you they had one you could use for free.)

Many of the items that no longer have a home with us will go to family members and FreeCycle. I can't stand throwing away anything that might be usable to someone. It's awesome that we have this ability to communicate now. I always find someone who can use what I cannot.

Are you impulsive or contemplative? Impulsive can be good in some areas of life but contemplative can be a good thing to strive for when it comes to purchases or big changes in your life.

For me, I want to be an impulsive lover, artist, giver and friend and I want to be a contemplative spender, talker, complainer and critic. What are you? What do you want to be? I'd love to hear.

Blessings,

Mary

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