To live in Verona is to live in a delightful town. I’ve lived her almost all my life and my family’s been here since Verona was actually a town. I think (and I could be wrong) that the majority of the houses in Veron are “older” homes. (Although there are some beautiful large new homes in the part of town that I am farthest from and admit that I am jealous of.) My home was built in 1923 and was purchased by my grandparents in 1924. It is a charming home. For today’s family lifestyle it is a flawed home. And for my family budget (or lack of one), it is going to stay that way.
The kitchen is small. So small that the refrigerator does not fit in it. The refrigerator sits in a space/landing that takes you down to the basement. When we bought our latest refrigerator (winter 2011, and that’s a story unto itself), we had to buy what would fit into the space. Finding one was a challenge for my husband, but he did it. And hopefully this one will last a while. It’s small, but we manage. To supplement our lack of refrigeration space, we have a minifridge and a free-standing freezer in our basement. The freezer is next to the washer. The refrigerator is next to the dryer. And in the middle, standing alone is a toilet.
Not a bathroom; just a toilet. It’s rather unattractive. Someone, sometime, was smart enough to place a semi-circular shower rod around it, so that curtains sort of close it in. Doesn’t give you privacy, but let’s face it when you really need a toilet, are you going to be that picky? It’s my back-up/emergency toilet. (Doesn’t every family need one of these?)
We have just one bathroom. It’s on the second floor with our three small bedrooms. (Actually two small bedrooms and one “office”.) Before we moved in a shower was installed. Prior to 1995, the bathroom (which still has its original white tile floor that is no longer white no matter what I do to try and scrub it, although suggestions are always appreciated) consisted of a toilet, a sink/vanity and a bathtub. (The radiator against the wall opposite the tub doesn’t really merit a mention.) There are three people in my family: my son, my husband and me. We have just one bathroom. It IS a challenge.
I would LOVE to have another bathroom. (I would love to have a lot of nice additions to the house; I have dreams of what I could do if I won the lottery.) It’s not an option. So three of us live with one bathroom. It’s not easy, but it can be done. I survived as a child living in a house with four people with one bathroom and we can survive this. (I’m sure my son will be telling his family one day about “the old days” when there was only one bathroom in the house.)
It is inconvenient at times. It requires some thought and planning. This is why I get up early (and do my morning walk) and try to get in (and out) of the bathroom and ready for work by 6:30. During the school year my husband is up at 6:30 and my son’s alarm goes off at 6:40 (but I’m lucky if he rolls out of bed by 6:55). In some ways it’s fun, as I head out to work about 20 minutes before my son does (or did, as his schedule will change this coming school year and he enters H.B. Whitehorne), so we brush our teeth together. Keeps me on track and I’m always sure he’s brushing! (Ok, maybe I’m reaching a little bit when I say it’s fun.)
It’s not easy to only have one bathroom. In an “urgency” someone can always run to the basement. (But let’s face it; no one wants to do that. Especially not at night when you’ve got to run down two flights of stairs!) There’s very little storage space and obviously little privacy. But it is doable; at least with a small family.
Of course if I suddenly win the lottery…well things might change a bit. Then I’ll be blogging about my 4 bathroom house! Or will I?
Beth Shorten is a life-long resident of Verona. You can read more of her writing on her personal site, Bfth’s Boring Blog.
