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October 3, 2007
Why I own a brownstone and don't do any of the work myself
I am a stay at home parent with 2 young children. If I were to start doing anything around the house, I'd need a sitter and it is cheaper to hire a handyman than to muddle through it myself and get a sitter. My partner works long hours 7-9 Monday to Friday, and wants to just relax with the family on weekends. Am I not "allowed" to own a brownstone because it isn't possible to do the work myself. I rewired all the receptacles in our old apartment, painted, but our lifestyle makes it hard these days.
Comments
I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all! I would be doing the same in your shoes. You are more skilled at taking care of the kids and a handyman is more skilled at doing the stuff with your house. Why would try to switch roles? Seems inefficient to me. I would totally make the same choices you are making. And I too have a husband that works long hours and I don't expect him to do anything but relax and unwind on the weekends.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 11:39 AM
I am not getting the purpose of this post. Doing manual labor has nothing to do with owning a brownstone. I think its best to hire professionals do to renovations and upgrades; my goal is to decide what I want them to do and to pay for it. But, owning a home and doing work on the home have nothing to do with each other?
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 11:53 AM
I believe this post is related to a previous one in which an OP was flamed for needing to keep costs down but also wanting to hire someone to rip out carpets and drop ceilings.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:02 PM
If I could afford to have all but the most simple handyman work done for me, I'd definitely do it. If you can, all the power to you. Raising kids, cooking etc. is a big enough job, and having your husband be able to relax and spend time with you and the kids when not at work is of course preferable.
lp
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:47 PM
Yes, enjoy your life and your house and don't worry about the judgments of others on this site.
Posted by: slopefarm at October 3, 2007 12:54 PM
Have lived with this for many years. Neither I nor partner is handy and B'stones are harder to work on then suburban tract homes. More worthwhile to own that is but harder to work on. Unless you have a ton of money and pay for renovation it seems that families where the owners are architects, contractors or just very handy seem to do better in keeping their house fixed up. Good luck.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 2:30 PM
hey, you got enough money to have a single-income household, in a brownstone no less ... why would an anonymous comment on a blog irk you so much?
when a commenter on brownstoner gets under my skin, i just cover my bed with money and roll around it in for a while, i highly recommend this to relieve post-blog stress.
suggestion #2: hire the handyman to watch the kids while you rip up the carpet!
;^)
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at October 3, 2007 2:54 PM
Stay at home gay parents love to waste time posting about how awful their lives are on this post. Not good at handy man work? Why don't you take up flower arranging or needlepoint? You could do it with your kids and it will help you program your kids to be gay like you.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 6:55 PM
As a matter of fact, I do embroider and knit.
Posted by: guest4 at October 3, 2007 11:54 PM
Hey 6:55pm: that's a really weird and homophobic post. First off, there are just as many straight people as gay people who refer to their spouses as partners. Secondly, I've often felt it was odd that there are so FEW gay comments on this site. Thirdly, the "program your kids to be gay like you" comment is really offensive. But I guess you can't help it -- clearly you are very insecure about your own masculinity or you wouldn't have to brings up flower arranging and needlepoint.
Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 12:40 PM
Thank you for your comment 12:40. However, the irony in criticizing homophobic and other offensive posts is that in addition to making us feel like we are doing the right thing, it also gives these individuals the attention they obviously want. Another poster before you pondered why there are not more gay posts. Well, I posted a question months ago about where a gay man may meet other gay men in Brooklyn to talk about home renovation and other social things. I suffered many ignorant and bigoted comments. Other posts I have made having nothing at all to do with a gay issue or including any reference to "gay" at all have been attacked. One comment I made about painting suggestions resulted in my idea being called an adjective beginning with the letter "F" that was removed from the site. Thank you to those who take offense to these comments. You may not be able to stop them on this site but you can always support your gay friends in life.
Posted by: bheightsejp at October 4, 2007 1:30 PM
The homophobic comments on Forum merely prove what I always observe: there are too many bitter out-of-work contractors here constantly insulting people. Who else would it be? Well-educated, upper income brownstone owners in Park Slope? Don't think so.
Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 2:51 PM
Dear bheightsejp: I'm the 12:40pm poster and I'm also the big ol' dyke who suggested you find some lesbian friends in the Slope as a way of connecting with gay men! Yes, I was pretty shocked at some of the comments you received. But, unlike 2:51pm, I really can't lay the blame at the feet of contractors. As a lesbian, I've found that almost all the tradesmen who have worked on our house have been refreshingly unbigoted. And -- over the past 7 years -- we have worked with a huge range of people, some Brooklynites born and bred, others from every corner of the globe and every color and creed. Actually, I have a different theory. I believe that a website dedicated to real estate is bound to attract at least some people who are avaricious and small minded. They confuse RE with Ayn Rand-style beliefs! Look what happens when there's any mention of affordable housing on this site. Or a debate about race. Some ugly opinions get aired. It's the same mind set when it comes to homophobia. And plenty of homophobes are, unfortunately, perfectly well educated.
Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 4:44 PM
To the lesbian in Park Slope. I know I live in Brooklyn Heights, but I can travel. Where can I meet these lesbian friends??? I spent this afternoon baking mini Brioche and making Pumpkin ice cream. Just tell me where the party is!
Posted by: bheightsejp at October 4, 2007 5:44 PM
Hello to the lesbian in Park Slope. Do you have contact info? My girlfriend and I are looking for some friends in the city. If you are, too, give a post and I'll post my contact info.
Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 6:07 PM
We should really have a gay and lesbian Brownstoner picnic or something in the park.
Posted by: bheightsejp at October 4, 2007 9:00 PM
I'd be into that--maybe we need to start a new thread?
Posted by: guest at October 7, 2007 12:10 AM
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