I’m now tied up helping my aunt repair & renovate his aged rural home.
I thought that I would be lucky enough to not get called over for more than a weekend or two, but now that we’re numerous months in, I don’t believe when the end will be in sight.
Although it has been a lot of physical labor to cope with, I have enjoyed the time the two of us are spending together. I get to hear stories he tells myself and others about his time in Vietnam while I tell him about life as a recent school grad. He’s constantly teaching myself and others how to use more tools or how to accomplish one DIY project after the next. He instilled in myself and others basic plumbing, electrical, & carpentry labor skills, however i now never need to hire the services of a handyman as I can do most of it all on my own. This week he’s teaching myself and others how to insulate an air conditioner inside of an uninsulated attic space. There is this good thermal sheeting that is made up of either a foam core or a bubble wrap core. A thin layer of foil coats both sides of the foam or bubble wrap. This creates a thermal barrier where heat is literally repelled on a thermal dynamic level. The people I was with and I started by covering the air handler & the HVAC duct that sits inside the rafters. Eventually when he has enough money saved, we’re going to cover the walls & ceiling of the attic to fully insulate that space that is normally hot & humid far beyond anyone’s comfort zone. I’m thankful for all of the skills my aunt is imparting upon myself and others as he teaches myself and others hands on.