Living Life In A Wheelchair

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Ordered A Metal Roof For My Shed
[ Monday August 31st 2020 at 4:29 pm ]

Over the past few weeks I've worked with a Home Depot employee to get a quote for a metal roof. This involved measuring and design elements (such as the shape of the metal roof and color). This is for my ~236 square foot shed built in 2002. I am planning to make this usable year round. A metal roof will reduce the maintenance on the building. With my physical disability and chronic pain this is extremely important. I can only do so much in a day. At this point a bit more money up front is being advantageous. As well I have purchased high end roof underlay. For the one time when the metal roof would leak and cause water damage the $210 CAD I spend now will be less expensive. It also will allow me more time to respond if the metal roof is damaged (such as by hail or a falling tree).

After having serious trouble with pain over the past week I've made it back to Home Depot, paid for the metal roof and created the order. It should be here in around 2 weeks. I am planning to use inheritance money for the building materials that will be used in the renovation to make this space usable year round. I am hoping this process will finish in mid 2022. Mid 2022 is what I presently figure will be when self employment has my undivided attention.

I have already purchased the insulation for the shed attic and hurricane tie brackets. I am planning to have these installed at the same time as the metal roof. There are usually 3 tornado warnings a year in the general region where I live. These brackets will keep the roof in in the event of a natural disaster (such as a tornado).

The city where I live has put out advance that residents should have a 72 hour contingency plan in the event of a natural disaster. The shed is part of my plans. I could live in it if needed. It wouldn't be fancy. But if there was an emergency it would be a possibility. This would tie me over while making other plans. The physical space will facilitate my pursuit of self employment.

I'm hopeful about my future. All of my hips, knees and ankles have deteriorated during the past few months. My plans around self employment focus on what I'm about to do and not what is no longer physically possible. I haven't lost hope. It took a lot of planning. I've had to be very creative. But I was able to come up with a plan:

  • Using my laser engraver to etch my nature photos onto wood and sell them online
  • Compose music and record myself playing the piano
  • Writing books themed around living with a physical disability, chronic pain and a wheelchair
  • Create an online course to equip someone from the point of an accident to where he or she feels like they are living their life again and have the skills to not be in a survival mode.

My plans for the money are split three-fold:

  • To hire practical help. With my physical disability worsening it is getting too hard to do things like house clean and grocery shop.
  • To save money for retirement. When I turn 65 years old I will no longer have coverage for my power wheelchair maintenance and equipment used to manage my physical needs. I need to have a plan that I will be able to afford these tools.
  • To no longer need the disability pensions I am receiving and become financially independent again. We'll see how this goes. If I can't pursue self employment to the fullest extent that I am earning my money I am still encouraged to work if it is possible.

If nothing else it is extremely important to have a healthy and active mind while living chronic pain. This is one of the most important keys I conclude to quality of life for someone living with a physical disability or chronic pain.