My family in Chicago has a dear friend named Stan who is our home-related guardian angel. Stan has been part of the family for years, probably decades, and he's there for every house- (or office-) related project that my family undertakes. There have been many times in the 7+ years I've lived in New York that I've wished Stan could just appear on my doorstep - especially now that we're trying to renovate this house. I even tried to convince him to move to Yonkers for a month or two to take on our project - and though I think he was tempted (the lure of renovating our Victorian was pretty great), I think his wife Polly would have killed me. (We love Polly too, so we don't want to get on her bad side!) So, without a smart, grounding force like Stan, we've been paralyzed by indecision the last few weeks, as we've interviewed way too many contractors and have too many differing opinions. We discuss nearly every detail with my brother and sister-in-law, because they've just finished renovating their 1920s house in Los Angeles, and also consult numerous other friends and family members. What Adam and I have been left with is the feeling that we are just not educated enough in what we need to know to think we can make good decisions. However, I think we've been sent our own guardian angel. Aaron is a friend of Adam's from way back in Providence, and he's now a builder who lives in Westchester County. Until last week he was only a concept to me - someone who might have been able to do our project but was tied up and so therefore not in the running. But suddenly he's on our team! Starting this Monday, Aaron will be at the house every single day, doing all of the interior construction and also overseeing other contractors. Aaron estimates that all of our interior construction will take about 2 months, including the kitchen construction and the master bath/closet construction. It may take longer for cabinets, etc., but at least if we can get the majority of the demolition and building done then it will be easier for us to live there. Speaking of living there, it's looking like I might actually move at the end of January. My building has not rented my apartment for Feb 1 but I posted it myself on Craig's List today and already have one interested person. I'd like to get out of the apartment by then so that I don't have to pay February rent (my lease is up at the end of February) - but it's also impossible to envision that I'll be packed by then, and very scary to think that I'll be living in a huge mess at the new house. But I think we're unparalyzed. We'll know for sure on Monday!