Today, the deadline, finally, of the Annual Inspection. My initial estimate of 3 hours wasn't far off, I put in total about 185 hours unproductively worrying about it and 5 hours, tops, doing a deep and thorough clean, putting things "in their place" which I may never find again.
It's done, and the building manager has a sort of grudging admiration that I pulled it off. Her sister must have tipped her that my studio was a little, a trifle, untidy.
Of course it was.
But the 5 hours, big dividends, and all the stress proved for nothing, clear spaces, countertops, shelves and cupboards, totes filled with art supplies arranged beside the easel, every ledge washed, shelf wiped down, floor swept and scrubbed, closets ordered and reordered until I could finally close them, the background noise of unarranged and superfluous ornament and ideas, of unfinished art projects, collections of rocks, candlesticks, crystals, garnets, all tidied and squared away.
My life, that would bear no scrutiny, least of all mine own, has finally passed inspection, and it's a relief, I can breathe, look at a plan or two to start converting these projects, supplies and ideas into into money...
I feel I should take some pictures for your benefit, if you've known me at all you'll know that disorder and chaos are my baseline, this, cleaning the house, the "settling in", it's my own personal Everest, and I've just gotten to the top.
Now, while I'm on that roll, time perhaps to address a few other lifestyle habits so I live long enough to enjoy the fruits of my labour...