Well, gang, I finally did it. I spent the night in my cottage!
Encouraged by the positive review of a friend who stayed there for several nights this summer, I made up the bed, relocated a large spider, and gave it a try.
Even with the messy state of both floors, it was a wonderful experience. I stayed cozy and comfortable all night. In the morning, the upstairs floor felt almost warm, and the downstairs floor only a little chilly in bare feet. I had fresh air and more light than I’m used to from the windows, and a (different) million-dollar view in the morning.
What a way to start the weekend!
The view from the sleeping loft. (Photo: Sarah A. Zeiger)
Now I’m inspired all over again to get the cottage ready for living in. Since my original plan to stay in the cabin until the cottage was ready has resulted in an out-of-sight,-out-of-mind style stagnation, I’m planning to try moving over there as an incentive to finish the project. Upcoming projects include buying outdoor storage totes (one of those previously mentioned storage solutions, see July Cottage Updates) and moving stuff off the floor, modifying and moving my bed frame, and possibly moving the dresser over there.
Oh yes! So excited to hear updates and progress. Very much want to picture you in your cottage, enjoying the comfortable life. On a side note, I heard a while ago that because rattlers with larger rattlers are heard, and thus often killed, we are starting to eliminate those that give us warning in favor of those that don’t – which of course won’t bode well for humans. (At this point, you’re thinking, “That’s more than aside. How could this possibly be related?”) As I relocate larger spiders and kill the small ones for convenience, less ooginess, and harder to capture them, I wonder if I’m aiding a planetary change to larger and larger spiders….
That’s an interesting thought. I, too, kill the little spiders. The big ones get scooped up in a jar and taken outside. I think there’s something about bigger being more worthwhile. Don’t bother with those little guys!
Fear not, there is balance in the universe. I only relocate the little innocuous cute ones. (And the daddy longlegs because my arachnophobic brain says it’s not a spider.) The big ones? I go “Oh Jesus *&%$?# Christ!” and they die. They get relocated to another plane of existence.
Hi Auntie Beth,
I’ve heard similar research on antibacterial soaps creating stronger germs. What are we going to do when the super germs, the silent rattlers, and the spiders-of-unusual-size come for us?
I confess, sometimes all the little spiders get is “the Look” and then I ignore them. I do like the little ones that come with a string to hold them by, though. They’re pretty easy to relocate.
Since my arachnophobia stems from some uncomfortable squishing events in my young life, I try to avoid squishing spiders entirely. The ones that land on me or my clothing are often unceremoniously thrown across the room, but I don’t think they have enough mass to be injured by this process.
I agree, daddy longlegs are different enough that I don’t feel squeamish about touching them. I can’t accurately describe why I feel this way, but it works out great for them! They get first class relocations, and sometimes even apologies.