Easy and almost free way to help Sandy victims

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Happy weekending!!

Tomorrow

we are supposed to have our boiler installed.


*Happy dance*.


Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Itching

So we've been displaced by Sandy for almost a month, and I am ITCHING so badly to go home.

The time has flown by, but at the same time, it feels like it has been standing still.

I am so, so anxious to just get back into my house, and back into my OWN structure and routine.

We've been staying at my inlaws, and for the past several days, with my parents.

I am SO tired of living out of laundry baskets (the easiest item to just throw a lot of clothes into)and stopping home on occasion if there's something I want that pops into my mind.

I miss my closet and getting up and making coffee in my own kitchen.

My house is currently upside down and this weighs on my mind too, as I like things as neat and clean as possible.

I can also tell that it's stressful on our hosts, being a guest in their home. They've also recently had some other stressors thrown onto them in the form of another unexpected house guest.

DS is also for the most part, pretty bonkers, since he has not had a great deal of structure and routine, and also, he does not understand at all what is going on. He randomly tells people he misses his house, it's broken and he wants to go home.

For more stress, DH is totally motivated to begin the rest of the work to update our home we've talked about way before Sandy. He wants to put in a new kitchen, move our front door, knock down a wall in our living room and put in new windows and siding. His reasoning is that "there's no time like the present."

I go back and forth about this with him. Especially since it's now super cold out and I already feel so stressed out and on edge about not being home. Plus, this is not really a decision I feel like we've had TIME to plan for.........it's just basically been sprung upon us. I don't really like the idea of having to stay with our inlaws for an undetermined period of time. I have nothing against them, we get along great, but this weighs on my mind too.


We have some money saved though, and out of this tragedy in our area, DH has been doing excellent this past month, business-wise since he is a contractor, so the $$$$ for once is NOT the issue.

I know things could be so much worse (I say that in all my posts!) and contemplating doing work to improve your home is a nice problem to have, but I just really miss my old life and want things to be back to as normal as possible again.

Right now I am stuck in limbo and feel like we are never gonna get there.

What are your thoughts?

Have you ever been in a similar situation?

What did you decide to do?

I think it really must be true

that it honestly doesn't take much to keep us happy.

Especially after a time of crisis. Life is really put into perspective. For me, this whole Hurricane Sandy thing has really helped me understand that while faced with somewhat different circumstances, I am not unlike many of the clients I have worked with through the years.

Down on their luck, but just needing the basics to keep themselves going. Nothing that is truly "milking the system", or taking much (if anything) out of anyone's pocket.

Just items and services that we all have, but that are often overlooked on a day to day basis.


A simple meal.
Hot coffee.
Steamy shower.
Comfy pants.
Favorite sweat shirt.
Cozy footwear (mine have been my Ugg knock-offs).
Conversation, laughter and smiles.
Ability to see the brightside of a bad situation.
Heat and shelter.
A bed, pillow and warm blanket to rest.
Work and activity to pass the time.
Or just downtime to not do anything much at all.
Snuggles and hugs from family and friends.
People checking in to show they care, even if they can't do anything else.

In terms of money, so far we've received just enough to get us back on our feet. That's all we really wanted and didn't even really expect.

It's sad to think that there are many people out there going through this, or other types of bad situations that don't even have these things. And are seen as taking advantage of the system, and entitled when they do.

And these are only the basics.
Think about the other things we have that are considered necessities.

Computer and smart phone with internet access.
Cable TV.
Car and gas.
Take out.
Electric.

It was reported that there were people in my area getting into fist fights when these items were so scarce just a week ago.

Again, very sad to think about when there are still those who don't have access to the things on the first list, I for one give little thought to on a normal day.

Have you ever been faced with some kind of crisis?

Did you have a basic need that went unmet?

What were the most comforting things for you that helped you through that time?

Was there anything that anyone made you feel uncomfortable for wanting or already having?

Do you think that in order for others to change their mind about those in need, that they must eventually go through their own kind of personal crisis?

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More updates from the storm

We are still displaced at my ILs. While we have a great relationship with them, having to stay with other people is stressful for all involved.

I can tell by my ILs body language and facial expressions that having constant guests is getting to them.

I think we will all be happy when things are "normal" again and we can move back into our house.

We do not have power or gas yet. Since we flooded, our home needs to be inspected before these utilities can be turned on. It's a process to get in touch with the people who need to make this happen. We were initially aiming to be back in our home by Thanksgiving, but at this point, even 12/1 seems to be a stretch.

DH was able to get his hands on a new boiler and hot water heater, and they are currently sitting in boxes in our kitchen.

Met with FEMA twice.

Home owners is not coming to meet with us until the end of November though, since they are so overwhelmed.

So we have not received $$$$ from anyone.

Most of my block is deserted at this point. There's a curfew and cops and National Guard are still out in full force.

Anywhere you go, there are huge dumpsters filled with the remnants of peoples homes.

Or trash just lines the street.

Every day I feel like I hear yet another horrible story about someone I know personally who has it much worse than I do though.

I think it is going to take a very long time----years maybe-----for most of the people who have been affected by the storm to recover.

If they do at all. It's not uncommon to hear people say they want to give up their house and they don't care if they have bankruptcy on their record.

The gas situation is still horrendous.

They have made odd and even # days to fill up though so I am hearing it's getting "slightly" better.

Overall, I feel bad for the people affected by the storm who were already struggling though.

Housing was already a huge resource lacking in our community. I have a huge feeling of dread about what is going to happen with the poor and disabled who have lost their homes.

Now people who have to pay a mortgage on top of rent since they are not able to live in their homes, cannot find places to stay.

And there are going to be even more people needing help because of the storm, since they were already struggling before it even hit.

People who are used to making it on their own, now may find themselves needing assistance from a system that was broken years before Sandy.