A new chapter for Gobcobatron…

For long-time readers of this blog, you probably know the story of building my first house, Gobcobatron. That experience was, after all, the inspiration for “The Year of Mud” to begin with. About a month ago, we sold Gobcobatron. It’s exciting, a relief, and an interesting stew of emotions to no longer own what was once so very close to me. Mostly, I’m really glad to be completely untethered from a building I can’t easily maintain living 8+ hours away. The experience of selling the house also causes me to feel old(er) in a way, and a bit nostalgic too. And it’s fascinating to think about the house having its own story and its own path now, separate from me.

I’ve learned quite a bit since that spring day staking out the foundation for that tiny cob house. It’s honestly a bit embarrassing for me to look back at some of what I had written early on. (I might feel that same way again in another 5-10 years, looking back to this time, huh?) Building Gobcobatron was a truly formative experience for me, and I realize now that the importance of the experience lies less with the physical outcome (the house itself) than with the less tangible effects. The experience itself was really quite empowering, and it gave me great confidence to take on things with which I have little experience.

Not knowing how to do something is a common hurdle, and unfortunately we’re often told that only certain types of people are capable of doing certain things. That’s usually just not true. One of the most powerful aspects of people coming through our workshops is that so many people leave with a sense that they’re capable of doing what they haven’t thought possible before. It’s transformative, I dare say.

I love the act of building, I love thinking about buildings and human spaces, and there is always so much more to learn. Right now, that feels like a constant lesson — the fact that no matter how many times you’ve done something, there’s always something else. It can be daunting, but it’s also intensely exciting.

Well, enough rambling for now, eh? On a side note, if all goes well, both Gobcobatron and Strawtron should long outlive me… now there’s a strange thought too, huh?

Godspeed, Gobcobatron and new caretaker.