Gone are the days of changing brakes, pulling differentials, and replacing radiators in the driveway so all my neighbors' kids could expand their expletive vocabulary. Gone is lying outside on my back in 100 degree DC summers sawing the rusty bolts off my kid's leaking exhaust. Gone are the greasy oil stains on the cement, requiring careful placement of cars and lawn furniture to hide. No more appropriating the rear porch during the winter months as my bike shop, being careful not to leave those oily clutch plates on the wife's sofa or add an oily new pattern to floor tile.
I'll have a three bay garage, two bays wide with a third bay deep. 220 outlets for the compressor and welder, sink, high ceilings if I ever opt for a lift, next to the kitchen so I can cool bearings and bake wheels without walking through the house. I'll do an enamel floor to catch those inevitable spills. Maybe I'll get a gas heater for those cold January days when I need to visit the bikes and dream of warm weather riding. I even have a garage door on the side of the house that will be just for getting bikes in and out!
And wall and and base cabinets with locks so my tools don't keep disappearing every time my kids' friends come by to work on their cars. A couple weeks ago my daughter called me to help her boyfirend who was having a hard time replacing the brake calipers on his friend car. I get over there, 8PM at night after a day at work, and see he's got my sockets, misc. wrenches, mallet and was using my torque wrench as a breaker bar, all without my knowledge or permission. I guess he thought if it was OK to take my daughter's virginity, borrowing some tools wouldn't be a problem.
I did have to make some compromises though. In exchange for getting my garage my honey gets a new kitchen with all the accoutrements, and a new living room, and a dining room, and 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, there's a library, and there will be a finished basement and rear deck (after I build them), etc, etc. But marriage is a compromise.
Actually, the garage comes with a new house. We're knocking down our old house and building new on the same lot. Pretty common here--it's cheaper than remodeling and the land values support the prices.
Here's an approximate floor plan:
After 18 years in our home (and about 3 years left on the mortgage) we move out in a couple weeks and will be renting for about a year as the demolition and building go on. I still have plenty to do as "we" (which means me) are responsible for all the site work and permitting.
Since I will be busy (and broke as usual) for the next year I'm planning forego track days and just collect some parts (if I can get to them before Mr. Deep Pockets a.k.a. JB OWO1 does) and just work on the bike. I'll try and make it look pretty with some paint and powder coat, maybe do some motor work (if Hooligan ever calls Dutchman) and try and find an inexpensive enclosed trailer to haul my stuff. Then next winter move into the new garage and prepare for the '08 track season.
Kontoboy
