Lessons learned from relocating your concierge to a second home in 2023

Community members gather outside the home they rebuilt for a deserving family in Northfield, Minnesota. (Courtesy of Bob Tucker)

Over the past 12 months, we've covered many home topics, from the philosophical (the meaning of home) to the practical (preventing home accidents). As we close out the year with this two-part retrospective of his work, he shares six of my favorite discoveries from the second half of 2023.

In July, After nearly 30 days of non-stop travel, I have rediscovered how much I love being at home. Simple tasks like feeding the dog, drying the dishes, and making the bed brought tears to my eyes and reminded me how important small rituals are.

lesson: It's easy to take things for granted, so from having access to your entire wardrobe to seeing a familiar view outside your window to knowing that no one else in the world has the same view, it's easy to take things for granted. I have listed 21 reasons why I love being there.

In August, Lightning struck the cable line between my house and my neighbor's house, zapping them both. The house next door took the brunt. They lost their air conditioner, three TV boxes, internet, cable, water heater, smart lighting system and suffered a shocking $40,000 in damages. The bolts destroyed the air conditioner, cables, irrigation control box and some lights.

lesson: All of this damage could have been prevented with proper surge protection. Many power companies, including us, offer this protection upon request. Peter Jackson, an electrician with Kennick, said: “While we can't prevent lightning from occurring, we can trap lightning and send it into the ground before it can enter your home and destroy your refrigerator. It is possible to prevent the intrusion of is a company that manufactures surge protection systems for power companies.

During September, I met a moving concierge. “My clients are people who live in homes surrounded by furniture and want less home, less maintenance, less stuff in exchange for more time and more freedom.” says Carrie Kuhl, who helps clients decide what to let go of. She sets up a furniture market and sells it.

lesson: Moving concierges do exist. If you've been putting off moving because of furniture, you now have one less excuse.

During October, A couple from Northfield, Minnesota reminded me of the good things in the world. Bob Tucker and Karen Cherewatuk knew they couldn't solve the entire housing crisis, but maybe they could help one deserving family. Since immigrating to the United States more than 20 years ago, Victor and Lorena Hernandez (names changed) have worked hard, paid their taxes and lived with their family of five in a run-down two-bedroom apartment. I was there.

Seeing a problem they could solve, Bob and Karen purchased a 130-year-old, run-down, abandoned farmhouse in the American Midwest for $80,000. They then rallied the community to provide donations and free labor to help renovate her three-bedroom home. Last Labor Day, the Hernandez family moved in and have been making monthly housing payments. “This house was not a charity project,” Tucker said. “It was a leg-stretching project.”

lesson: We may not be able to solve the big problems of our time, but we can make a difference by solving small problems.

In November, On behalf of my neighbors who are tired of seeing their porches and patios littered with rusty tricycles, old dog kennels, broken step stools, plastic slides, and plastic garden gnomes, I am calling for an end to porch pollution. appealed to readers.

lesson: While we focus on keeping the inside of our homes organized and beautiful, outdoor spaces are seen by so many people that it's important to keep them organized and thoughtfully decorated. may be more important. Keep it clean, tidy, attractive and easy to use.