I’m not the type of person who “enjoys the journey” as much as I’m always grateful for making it out the other end. For instance, when I hike I concentrate on how difficult each step is. It’s when I come to the goal of a long arduous walk that I’m able to appreciate the view. After recouping, I again focus on the effort required to return. I’ll often rest in between and try to enjoy the scenery without thinking about how much further I have to go. But the end is still my favorite part. I am usually glad I went, or at least accomplished the task. So I file that feeling away, and that’s why I may someday venture out again.

So what’s my point for this column? I’ve spent many words whining about our move, which now that we’ve lived here these seven months I’ve come to understand my husband really needed to look at cows. We clearly bit off more than we could chew (no cow cud pun intended), but we’ll figure it out eventually. This is where I pick up our grand moving adventure life lesson – the art of being patient.

I’m not a patient person, so when I enter into a “hike,” like unexpectedly moving, I don’t exactly have the grace and tact I should. Besides the incessant whining, (though how boring would these columns have been without it? It’s my superpower), I find myself thrown into countless situations that I not only did not want to know anything about, but that I have to wait on other people to resolve.

If you’ve ever made a home purchase, you know every aspect is a waiting game. From finding out if the owner accepted your offer, to the financing and then the final closing. It takes so many people and so much time to wend your way through the legal maze. Once you have the house it’s time to make it your own. I’m not personally capable of fixing things, mostly because I’ve never had to nor have I wanted to. I really just want it all done, NOW. I’ve learned to bite my tongue on the speed of my husband’s handyman services. At least he’s doing it and he’s capable. He’s not my biggest “hurry up and wait” conundrum.

There are countless things to be done around a big property, from tree removal, building of the shop, to well repairs. The well works, but the water isn’t drinkable, which we didn’t find out until our tubs and showers started turning blue. My youngest Googled it and found out the pH is too low in the water and is deteriorating the pipes.

We turned to the guys the previous owner used to install a treatment system. They were nothing less than disorganized. I decided to find a company who specialized in water treatment. Turns out the thousands of dollars the previous owner spent to have the nitrates removed from the water was wrong. Not that the fix didn’t need to be done, but the whole system was installed incorrectly, thus further messing up the pH and corroding our pipes. Anyone for a nice glass of copper? Though the water treatment people were responsive, these things take time.

I really had to hold myself back from running down the street screaming while tearing off my clothes as my frustration threatened to boil over. People helping you resolve household issues usually don’t respond well to that kind of outburst. As I write this, the treatment system is being repaired. I’m still hoping to come out the other end, if not with grace intact at least with my clothes on.

Gretchen Leigh is a stay-at-home mom who lives in a neighborhood near you. You can read more of her writing on her website livingwithgleigh.com. To see pictures illustrating her columns, follow her on Facebook at “Living with Gleigh by Gretchen Leigh. Her column is always available at maplevalleyreporter.com under the Life section.