Last week I reluctantly began a phase of home construction I was hoping to skip. There will be a gap of at least six months between the end of my rental agreement and issuance of the certificate of occupancy that will allow me to move into my new house. In January the rental agent told me there would be no problem extending my lease until my house was completed, but as it turns out the rental agent lost the property at the end of my lease.
I had no confidence that I could find a new place that would not make me sicker, particularly in the short time I had to find a new place. I have yet to meet or hear of a chemically sensitive person who could find suitable housing without an extensive search.
I spent some time dreading my entry into the ranks of the chemically sensitive who have no choice but to live in their vehicles or in tents because they can’t find a home that doesn’t make them sick. But I rallied and purchased a used four-season teardrop camper than had already offgassed. I’ve decided to take a series of two or three week camping trips around western Washington, returning to the construction site for visits at critical times.
Perhaps my health will improve while doing this. My VOC meter says the air quality in the camper is better than the air quality was in my rental, and the campgrounds should be close to empty in the winter, with very little fragrance or cigarette smoke.
I am currently on a shakedown trip. My first night out I put the issue in perspective by watching “Homesick: Living With Multiple Chemical Sensitivities,” which is currently available to view for free on Amazon Prime. Unlike the chemically sensitive people who have to live like this indefinitely, I only have to make it through one PNW winter.
