From the beginning talks about Kendal's Phase II Construction our administrative staff has endeavored to involve residents and to keep all of us informed about it. Focus groups allowed us input at the onset. Question and answer sessions addressed worries. Monthly reports from our Director at our association meetings and in our newsletter along with items posted on the Kendal TV Channel continue to provide us up-to-date information on what is happening. A representative of the construction company has a standing invitation to appear at our monthly association meetings to bring us timely reports on progress or explanations for lack of progress such as weather or failure of needed materials to appear as scheduled.
We've learned a lot more about geothermal heating both from a presentation by one of the men on the project team and from direct observation of the installation of the system. We are becoming accustomed to the necessary interruptions in various utilities. Our reactions have varied as they have affected our lives differently. e.g. The late at night hour-long cutoff of the TV no doubt bothered few people because they were already in bed asleep. But for an insomniac like me who got mixed up as to the day it was to occur not so. I found myself watching a two part program which was cut off at the end of part I. When my TV screen went black, I quickly figured out what was happening and chalked it up as one more program I would have to either catch as a rerun or leave as an unsolved mystery.
We made it through what AEP referred to as a "planned outage". Not only did they not think to schedule it during daylight hours when there would be fewer problems, they didn't tell us it was planned and it happened during our dinner hour. Luckily our resourceful dining room staff has learned from previous outages during storms how to make do on limited emergency power. They got diners through the experience like the pros they are. After dinner one of our talented residents played the piano for the amusement of those of us who had made our way to the lobby with our assorted flash lights.
We are also learning how to handle announced as well as impromptu changes in traffic patterns, one way streets, moved stop signs, trucks unloading supplies, etc. On dry days we cope with blowing dust and on wet days we're learning to avoid the muddiest spots the best we can and to remove what we can't avoid as soon as possible before it becomes dry and hardened in place.
Yesterday afternoon at the east end where I live they were driving pylons into the ground. This really had my apartment shaking. Not only could I feel the vibrations through my feet when I walked on the floor, I also could hear many of the things in my apartment rattling or vibrating against the wall. I could even feel the vibrations as I relaxed in my recliner. All of this was accompanied by a low disconcerting sort of rumbling noise. I was relieved when it stopped.
I've discovered that an observation post has been established on the second floor at the east end of the apartment building where a window conveniently overlooks the building site . Two chairs have been drawn up for the comfort of observers. Someone has also been thoughtful enough to place copies of the site plan close at hand.. Yesterday when I went up to check it out, I discovered that it really does give a much more comprehensive overview of the site compared with that at ground level. As I surveyed the number of huge trucks, cranes, and other like equipment I couldn't help remembering something I had once heard, "The only difference between men and boys is the size and cost of their toys."
Along with the promise of wonderful new accommodations to come the construction project gives us a variety of topics of conversation with two major areas of activity and a third yet to be started when work starts on the Gathering Center. Life is never dull here at Kendal at Granville.
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