Jan. 18:

With high winds and thunderstorms predicted, we had already decided that today would be our second weather day of the trip. Anne Manning had told us that there would be two volunteer groups working on Habitat houses in a subdivision near Homestead. Her directions were perfect and we drove there after doing our laundry and checking out of Neptune’s Hideaway. We met several construction managers and one of the directors, a lawyer who had offered to do pro bono title work for Habitat as a community service and had gotten hooked into being a director. Now he was swinging a hammer. For some types of lawyers I would say this was dramatic career advancement. He told us that when trying to meet the requirement for pro bono work it was difficult for title lawyers to find opportunities. Habitat was an ideal choice and he has not only served as their lawyer but provided education to the homeowners on everything from estate planning matters to budgeting and financing. This was a good lawyer! I will have to soften my attitude toward the profession.

We toured two houses under construction seeing the way they were tying the roofs down so that they could withstand hurricanes like Andrew that had blown away most of the homes in this area nine years ago. The houses were concrete block construction with stucco applied to the outside, then painted a color of the owner’s choice. We met an Hispanic couple who spoke no English but, through a translator, managed a limited conversation in which I explained TOTO’s gift to Habitat and why water efficient toilets would help keep their bills smaller. They were obviously really proud of their new home and it was clear that they would keep it up well and know how to do most any maintenance task that might come up. I resolved that if I have the privilege of doing this again, I would try to arrange to be able to show the homeowners how to install and repair one of our toilets.

On top of one house were about twenty Johns Hopkins University students all with hammers putting on shingles. This was clearly fun for them and, at the same time, a great way do get credit for doing some community service.

We left the new subdivision after some picture taking and outpourings of appreciation and went to a hotel where we set up our laptops. I did some long needed catching up with the log while Heather updated pictures and worked on the website. I also took time to delete 50 or more spam emails and reply to the one or two real ones. Weather predictions for the next day were not too hopeful but we went to bed early in case they would be wrong.