Fringe Benefits
February 9, 2010
A lot of people express a lot of different things when they hear that my brother-in-law has moved into our house and will be living here for the duration of his Ph.D studies. Extended family living in a single household is just not that common among my peers. Mostly, people are surprised and they ask if I’m unhappy with the situation. I always respond the same way: for us, the benefits outweigh any costs. And while there are many benefits, hoo boy – I can only think of one at the moment!
I’ve had an almost 100% reduction in shoveling work – I only have to go out there when I want to. Also, we only have two shovels, so I can sit back and relax and not even feel guilty about it. We’re in the midst of record-breaking snow, and I’ve been replaced on the Snow Shoveling Crew!!! But while I sit inside the house, poor Mian still has the same amount of shoveling work! I also took some pictures of them shoveling from inside my warm, warm house – but you could see the window frame and it just seemed so evil that I went outside to take pictures a little closer to the scene. I’m telling you – benefits!
