It is funny. I haven’t checked this thread in several weeks and went today to search for it and there were new postings. Things are improving. I think the previous posters who mentioned that I am probably experiencing grief vs true depression are right. I still feel a sense of loss and miss the building adventure but it is definitely becoming more manageable as time goes on. I haven’t cried in a week whereas for a while there I was sobbing several hours a day. (I’m not typically such a bah bah) I haven’t taken any medication as I didn’t see this as being a long term problem and didn’t want to start something that might be hard to get off. In the short term reconnecting with old friends has really helped. I sent out emails and reestablished my friendships with friends who aren’t SAHM’s. We’ve had a lot of lunch and dinner dates and it has helped to satisfy my need for adult conversation with those whose lives don’t revolve around kids. And my DH finally agreed to take a dance class with me. That exercise and time together laughing was a great mood lifter. I’m thinking of taking another class this fall. I’m a terrible artist (designing a house was easier - its just a bunch of squares put together with a few angles for character - but my husband and kids are quite talented and they think an art class would be a good creative outlet for me so I’m considering that if I can get over my “mental block”. I guess my advice to anyone reading this post is to be aware of the potential for "post-build-em" depression. I worried beforehand that I would miss my project but never thought it would hit me as hard as it did. I think anyone who becomes passionately involved in their build has the possibility of that occurring but for those of us who aren’t working outside the home and live fairly quiet lives the risks are all the greater. In hindsight I think it would have been valuable to have something planned ahead of time to start once the house was completed. I initially thought I’d relax over the summer, spend quiet time with the kids, and get settled. Now I see that was too extreme of a shift in activities and my mind couldn’t switch gears like that. Smoothtalker - I see you’ve had a similar experience. Hope your new build goes smoothly. All I can say is wow - you make my home life seem pretty simple! I was actually thinking of checking into 4-H as my kids are aspiring “farmers”. I still miss the project management and stress of building but I know I will revisit that experience again someday either building new or remodeling, for resale or to keep as rentals, and next time I will be better prepared for the aftermath!! Teresa - I worry that you will someday be in the same boat. Going from talking to (or arguing!) with several people a day to just talking to family and the check out clerk is a hard transition to make. Being in a rural setting might make it even harder for you since you will probably stay at home more often. If I were you I would come up with plans now for something you could do to fill the void. Are you close to a town or city that might offer something? Are you near family and friends? If not, make some, although it looks like from your blog that you know several people or are they all construction workers? It is weird sometimes to think of all the shallow friendships that are formed during a build that disappear once the house is done. I look around my house at the trim, tile, framing, etc. and think what a great job these guys did, how nice they were to talk to and how their “art” is now part of my home and I will probably never see them again. That makes me sad. How nuts is that?? Oh well, tis the joy of home building. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to respond. It helped a lot to gab on here and also to know that there are complete strangers out there who are kind enough to take a few minutes to write words of encouragement or advice. This forum has been a great help both during and after the build.

I have been hospitalized twice in 20 years due to one tiny diverticulitis pocket. Saw the pocket on photo from test done and it is about the size of a pea. Food gets stuck in there and rots causing pain and inflammation. Mine starts with a twinge about 3 to 4 inches above the left hip. If I let it go it gets bad, really bad pain. Then the hospital and doctor put me on a liquid diet. Antibiotics Cipro and Flagel and a pain killer. The trick is not to let it go to the bad point. When I feel the twinge I immediately start drinking Slim Fast and Metamucil. Plus no solid foods only clear liquids. In a few days it is gone. The surprising thing to me was the change in attitude between the 20 year hospitalizations. 1st time I was told not to eat seedy things like tomatoes, cukes, nuts, etc. for the rest of my life. The second time I was told it had been discovered that "any small piece of food" could cause the problem. Doc and dietician said it could be a grain of rice, a crumb of hard toast, anything! Just make sure to handle it quickly, I didn't because the 1st time I didn't know what it was. Second time it was 4 days before Christmas and I thought it could wait. Mine is only one pocket, my girlfriend had a ton of pockets and they removed that piece of bowel and she has no problem now. Good luck.

Patience my UK Adenium friend, patience. ;-) Where would the fun be, If everyone could grow a nice specimen in a few months? Rome wasn't built in a day - neither are the spectacular Thai Adenium specimen! ;-) IMHO, the fun thing about being an amateur plant collector is to raise and grow the plants from seeds yourself. I used to buy a lot of mature succulents and caudiciforms but somehow I got tired of it. You don't "bond with" those plants like you do with your own "offspring", simply because you haven't watched them grow during the years. Who said "nerd"? ;-)

Anne, I saw my first Rose Chafer beetle last year. I didn’t know what it was until you mentioned it in a beetle thread. So after that I have been in denial. I hope that the JB’s never get worse for you CB’s are bad enough and they are ugly. Carol, It’s not that bad really (well it is) but you get them anyway. I have found threw the years that you need a few sacrificial lambs. A couple of roses that the beetles love so much that that some others are left alone. wirosarian, your so dog gone funny. Now who remembers the poster from years back. They showed a necklace made from JB’s. Maybe we should have their nutritional levels tested like they are with other insects.