Nothing like building a house to get in the way of blogging about building a house.  But this weekend I got to pause and see reflected in other people's responses what an amazing project this is, and to hear from some of the people who have joined me in making it a reality.  As one of my builders, Marc Rudnick, said, creating something new that hasn't been done before earns me all the pain and beauty of going first. 

Around forty people passed through my little house over the course of a few hours, and I got to see what we've accomplished through their eyes.  This Vehicle will end up costing close to what a luxury motorhome would cost, but my luxuries are clean, non--toxic air, solar energy and at least some of the time, biodiesel fuel, and a design crafted specifically for my body, for my needs, to my taste. 

Six years ago, this was a wild idea.  Two days ago, a bunch of people walked through my wild idea, touched the smooth wood of the cabinets, admired my Kimberly stove, (so beautiful, so sleek, so small!) and marveled at the as yet unmanifested plan for a greenhouse.  All along the way, so many helpful people have shown up.  My visitors got to hear from my architect and one of my builders, but one person who's made it all possible wasn't able to attend. George Smichinski is my landlord at U-Haul of Somerville.  After three months of searching for a place to do construction, I was at my wits' end when, really not believing it would lead anywhere, I decided to write to one more storage facility. Within hours, George responded that he'd like to help, and donated the perfect construction space.  Not only has he hosted this project at no charge, he's received millions of packages, unloaded materials with his forklift, helped my crew level the trailer, lent us a charger for the batteries that raise and lower the deck, and been an all around blessing. I never imagined when I started on this journey how many people would step forward to help! 

This is the part I love.  I mean, I've loved many parts of this process, but this is pure fun.  Rubbing natural wax into white oak wood--lots of wax and lots of wood.  I have always loved working with wood, the feel of it under my hands, the grain, the texture, the color.  I no longer tolerate the scent of conifers, no pine or fir, cedar or redwood, but this beautiful, smooth white oak doesn't trigger any reaction at all.  I am using cotton diapers, my favorite dishcloth, to rub Bioshield's Patina Wax into the pale wood, watching it turn just a shade darker, in a way that makes the lines of the grain emerge and speak. It's poetry.

Each day when I stop by the trailer, I see new pieces of cabinetry assembled and mounted.  The home I have been dreaming of for so long is coming to live before my eyes.  More wax just came in.  I can't wait to go back in the morning and go back to caressing wood. 

I am amazed that this day has actually come!  My Vehicle is ready to show the world.  There will likely still be a few loose ends on the 24th, but today I spent the morning rubbing natural waxes into the white oak cabinets and elm wood tansu stairs, and we're solving a few problems that will allow us to finish the shower-entryway floor and the greenhouse. 

At the open house I will be talking about how I came to build this house and some of the process.  We'll also hear from architect Johnny Osband, Willa Crolius from the Institute for Human Centered Design, and others involved in the design and construction of the Vehicle.

While the site is wheelchair accessible, the Vehicle is not, but wheelchair users at ground level should be able to see into the entryway, which has a lot of interesting things happening, and I can do a walk through with my laptop and send it via Facetime to a second laptop outside. 

Please spread the word.  I'd love to have a lot of people see the Vehicle before I take off in it.