I do think and rethink and reorganize and replant.... But the thing that made me laugh was your "with the world going to hell in a hand basket".... That's exactly why my gardens look so good this year, it's the only thing that I can control in these crazy times....

sew: lol it's okay u can ask. The kitchen is nice. Originally the sink was on the right and the sink was on the left. But for years I had to pull my dishwasher out from under the granite and slant it to open the door If not the dishwasher door would hit the cabinet door handle and the oven door handles. Also, I purchased rectify tile to come home to see I have a huge space in between the tiles. I was so hurt. I spent weeks looking for the right tile. When I walk on the tile, I can feel that the tile is loose. I've always wanted to open the space to make the place appear bigger since the house is relatively small. It's been about 10 years finally decided to make it happen. I was really into brown tones. I took the plunge and sold most dark things on offer up. I wanted to get a more bright look. I hope I can achieve the look and it all comes together. that's why I'm asking so much questions too because I need all the suggestion and ideas houzz members have to offer. I've learned so much on here. I don't want to make a mistake. This remodel will be it for the kitchen.

I hear you! I'm the same way. I felt every decision had to be the perfect one--it's my one shot at this, I'm spending all this $$$. It really ramped up my perfection tendencies. Then I realized that the rest of my adult life I've moved into a place and made it work. Also, most of these decisions have trade-offs. There's no one perfect choice. So with each choice there are pros and cons. I've been trying to focus on the reasons why I picked something. Also, I lack that skill of being able to visualize things (spacial perception?) so it's hard to see how a small sample will look in a large space, 3D. So I'd say to be kind to yourself. You made the best choice you could, for the reasons that were important to you. And since it's a floor, you could always buy a rug. ;) Take care.

"Elmer -- Can you find and re-post your beautiful contribution -- possibly from a few years back -- about your not wanting children; then wanting them; then wanting 'just one more'? It endeared you (and Mrs. Elmer) to me forever." I'm touched that you would remember something I'd written. Thank you. Honestly, I wouldn't know where to start to find something like that but I can try with your prompting - it is something very familiar to me. I didn't want to have kids. It never interested me. I got married, we were busy enough with life that the topic didn't really come up, and when it did, my wife knew my thoughts. One day my wife said something like "You know, it's probably time to start a family". To which I responded something like "We've discussed it before, I don't really want kids". In her direct manner (just like mine), she said something like "I want kids and will have them with you or with someone else". That gave me something to think about and I relented after about a month but said something like "I can't promise how I will be with a kid, how I will react, if it will be something I can deal with, if I will want to stay with you with a kid in the picture". That was okay with her, we went forward with it. I found I had little interest in having infant in the house but as they got older and began to talk and understand, I could jump in and be very engaged. For hours on end. There was a particular personal factor involved I won't mention but we had our family of kids, things were going well, and my wife one day said something like "Now that the youngest is out of diapers, we can leave that phase behind". To which I said something like - "How about having one more?" She said "You're crazy" and I said something like "So what, we both know that. I'd like one more". So we had one more. The greatest happiness and sense of accomplishment (and contribution to our world) we have is from our kids. I'm grateful my wife pushed me into something I'd completely misjudged and was wrong about. I was and still am a devoted father, and as above, we communicate with them regularly. Dear Old Dad is regularly consulted for opinions and advice by all of them about their lives and various personal matters. It's deeply satisfying for me but honestly, they were all prepared for successful adult life through their hard work and educations and could make do without me if they wanted or needed to. That hasn't happened yet and hopefully won't for a long time. At the same time, I profoundly understand the preference to not have kids. I really, really do. It's not for everyone and too many people have kids that shouldn't. We all suffer for that. Thanks again, chisue. I hope this is what you had in mind. The tale is a part of me that's very personal but very important. Probably more important than anything else.