Hurry Up and Wait

When I first moved to rural Arizona in 2007, it was the height of the copper mining boom. All apartments, rental homes, and motels were rented out. Housing was so limited that the local mining company had already secured leases for new apartments that were still under construction. Fleets of RVs filled parking lots.

Since I couldn't find anyplace to rent, I had to buy a home. I had a choice between a large four bedroom house in a nice middle class suburb and a run down log cabin in a working class neighborhood that had been built in 1910.

I opted for the log cabin. It didn't have central air or heat. It didn't have a dishwasher. Instead of a driveway, the front yard was covered with gravel. The cabin was definitely rustic. It was also cheap.

The house sat empty for a year after I took a teaching job in Tucson. Now that I'm moving back, I need some work done on the house. I'd like the carpet replaced with wooden floors. I'd like the peeling linoleum tile in the bathroom replaced with ceramic. There are a great many things I'd like done to this old home to make it more comfortable. Unfortunately, time in rural Arizona does not seem to work the same as it does in the city.

In the city, a service technician who says, "I'll be there tomorrow afternoon" means that he will literally be there tomorrow afternoon. In the country, "I'll be there tomorrow afternoon" is not so much a promises as it is a matter of wishful thinking. The technician who promises to be there tomorrow might be there tomorrow. He could also be there in two days or perhaps even next week.

I was initially impressed when the contractor showed up within five minutes of our scheduled appointment. After taking measurements and jotting notes on a clipboard, the contractor said, "I'll email an estimate tomorrow."

This was 1 1/2 weeks ago.

Since then, the contractor has been "out of the office." He's been busy "taking classes." He's been "at another work site."

The poor receptionist who has taken my calls has been very polite. She understands that I can't schedule a moving date until my old log cabin has been refurbished ... but nailing the contractor down to an estimate has been challenging. Assuming I can afford to have this work done, I will then face the added challenge of scheduling a work time.

I am apparently moving to the land of "manana" where the pace of life is definitely slower. I hope I will survive the transition. I worry that I will find myself camping in my back yard with all of my possessions crammed into the garage because the flooring work has not been completed in my home.

On August 9th, I am expected to report to work. That is just one month away and I am still twiddling my thumbs in Tucson while waiting for the contractor to get back to me.

I can only hope that the movers will not be so difficult.