We got sick of the grubby linoleum, the decaying cabinets and counters, and the lack of a proper stove vent, so we're redoing the kitchen. Actually, that's not true: we're not doing much beyond writing checks. A professional contractor and various skilled subcontractors are redoing the kitchen. When they're finished (in another couple of weeks, if all goes well) we'll have more counter space, more cabinets, more power outlets, and more light. It will be a much better cooking environment.
Of course, during the past four weeks, we've also demonstrated that this whole process is completely unnecessary. With the kitchen torn up and all our gear packed away in the basement, Diane and I have been doing all the cooking with about three pots, a little charcoal-fired Webber grill, one knife, a spatula, and a corkscrew. During that time we've made quiches, cookies, flamenco eggs, gazpacho, chicken Creole, various salads, hamburgers, and other good things.
So . . . why do we need the kitchen?
It comes down to three reasons, I think. The first is convenience. Yes, we can prep food on the dining-room table and run up and down the basement stairs when we need something, but it's tedious. Having everything at hand and accessible will definitely be an improvement.
The second reason is that one can put up with temporary difficulties which would be intolerable if they were permanent. I can eat off paper plates while the dishwasher is disconnected, but I'm not about to do that forever. This stay-at-home camping trip has been fun, but people who spend their lives camping out are called "homeless" and our society spends large sums trying to help them stop camping. There are many fun activities which turn nightmarish if you can't stop.
And finally -- and, I suspect, the most important -- the kitchen is a symbol. Remodeling our kitchen into a bigger and more useful cooking environment is a statement. We're putting up a sign in our house that says "we enjoy cooking and are serious about doing it well." Which is true, but will the food taste any better when the new counter-tops are installed?
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