It has been two weeks since Harvey forever changed Plan473. Friends and family and people unknown continue to offer support and assistance from clean up crews, to meals, to housing. While there has been progress made at being able to return home due to the endless man hours from Verizon, AEP, TxDot, and city and county employees it will still be two weeks or more before many residents can return.
So with nothing but time on our hands, we decided to be productive. No time like the present to devote a little much needed love our home. Seeing as we will all be living in the Airstream again for some unknown time, making it a little more habitable seemed worthy.
Airstreams are maintenance hogs. Constant diligence is needed in securing comfortable living. Notice I did not mention shiny, clean living. Ain't nobody got time to polish yearly both inside and out to ensure the aluminum stays bright and corrosion free. No, I am talking about the maintenance that goes unseen but it WAY more important that visual appeal. I am talking about toothbrushes, razor blades, and caulk guns. Yup, rain maintenance.
First the old caulk must be removed. This involves razor blades, picks, chemicals, and lots and lots of time. The old caulk is now dry and brittle and does not remove in long strips but in tiny segments and fragments.
Once all remnants are removed, the seams must be taped and prepared. This requires patience as it is important to maintain proper distance from the seam lines. Too far and the seams can be seen. Too close and they leak. Oh, how there have been many a nights with water dripping on our heads and running down the walls because of this vintage Rainstream.
Then there is the art of caulking. Not skill, art. Caulking requires a small, small hole in the tube and cramped, steady hands. It is important to ensure the caulk is pushed in between the aluminum panels and is seated tightly. Otherwise when it dries, it will pull away leaving at a gap. Even a pinhole size gap leads water to run inside the trailer. Caulking can only be done in sections otherwise it dries making removal of tape more difficult. An unlike ripping off a bandaid, tape must be gently, slowly pulled away from the trailer to ensure the caulk seal is not broken or smudged or broken.
But hey, just think, seam maintenance is good to go for another couple of years or so. Or until the next rain when it is discovered the Rainstream leaks at 3:30 in the morning. On your head. Yes, because leaks only appear when people are trying to sleep. Never in the light, only at night.
With at least two more weeks before we can return home, time will be spent with continued commuting home every third day to check on chickens, friends, and general home well fare. Two more weeks of full service, unlimited data to write blogs and zone out with videos (thank you Verizon!!)
Two more weeks of squatting in an air conditioned home (hey it was only 99 degrees yesterday), with an extra large stove and oven (oh I can feel the pounds accumulating), and a separate bed for the Kid. So now, I can't say that I am really complaining about two more weeks. Don't get me wrong, we want to go home. Badly. But going home adds an additional level of stress to an already stressful time. Going home means the beginning of new and this new is a little scary.