The Closet Conundrum

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher

Finally! The perfect door for my closet.

I have begun making plans for the next phase of my life.  Now I know what you’re thinking.  Retirement fund, long-term care planning, accessible single-story housing.  Nope.  That’s not it.  I’ve been planning out prayerfully and considerately my new favorite space for my golden years: my closet.  Girl priorities.

Throughout my entire married life, I have had small closets.  This was hard for a girl who grew up with a walk-in closet large enough for a three-story Barbie Dream House and airplane, a doll crib, a kid size table and chairs, a chalkboard and well, clothes.  As an adult, I have had multiple closets, but they were small in several areas of the house.  Some upstairs, some downstairs, some in our bedroom, some not.  It was a virtual “Where’s Waldo?” getting dressed in the morning.

When Mr. Kaminski and I were dating, and I lived in a Houston high rise, I secured a larger apartment that was a one bedroom with a study.  I quickly negotiated for an additional closet to be built in the study.  I didn’t need to study; I needed storage. The moral of this story?  Mr. Kaminski knew what he was getting into.

Years later when I moved my office out of our home, I turned my home office into an accessory closet.  Clever, right?  Better use of the space.  Not a peep from Mr. Kaminski.  By then, he had accepted my closet conundrum.

Now that we have downsized to our forever home sans babies, I once again went into negotiations, this time with Mr. Kaminski.  I secured an agreement for an addition that consisted of two spaces: a master bathroom and a closet, and I’m talking CLOSET.  And I’m not sharing.  Mr. Kaminski never had a chance.

Fortunately, my contractor gets me.  He understands that any shortage of closet square footage results in a shortage in his check.  We are sympatico.  He even shared that he has an 8’ x 10’ closet complete with a washer and dryer and a television.  “So, you’re not married,” was my response.  Yes, I was correct.

The only decision left in the closet conundrum is the type of door, and lo and behold, I found the perfect one at the bank!  Large, steel with an access code – it’s perfect!  Now if I can just get it relocated to my house.  See y’all next week – on the porch!


Patti Parish-Kaminski

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