Sometimes You Just Have to Improvise

We all like the “creature comforts” of home, no matter where home is, no matter how big (or not-too-big) it is. We have the things that we need within reach or at least only a minute or two from where we need them. That’s not always the case when you’re traveling. You might go to get something, and then you realize, “That’s right; I’m not at home.”

Such is the case on our current two-month stay in Paris, France. We rented an apartment through airBnB.com, and, for the most part, the experience has been good. But occasionally we need something, realize it’s not here, and then we come to the conclusion, “Sometimes you just have to improvise.”

Windows. It’s summer time and it gets warm. There are only two windows in this apartment; both of them are about four feet wide by ten feet tall and they are on opposites of the main area. Sounds like great cross-circulation, right? Well it would be if the one in the kitchen area wasn’t painted shut. We do open the other one, which is also our access to the patio area, but that still doesn’t provide much moving air. Our solution? We use a floor model oscillating fan that we move from the living room area to the bedroom loft when we go to bed (because we’re not leaving that giant window open at night). It’s not THE best solution, but it is A solution.

Squeaky doors. How many cans of WD-40 do you have around the house and in the garage? I don’t know how many we have, but I know it’s more than three, and I know where at least two of them are at any time. The bathroom door in our apartment squeaked, and it was irritating especially at night. The hallway door to the stairs is also very noisy, but I knew the answer to both of those problems – buy a can of WD-40 and spray away the squeaks. I spotted the familiar yellow and blue WD-40 can while we were at the hardware store to get a few other items. They had it, and then I noticed the price of 7€, almost $10. I wasn’t going to spend that much money for just a few sprays of it. Our solution? We took a little olive oil, put it on a paper towel, and wiped it on the hinges. It didn’t penetrate as well as the spray, but it got rid of the squeaks (and I saved a ten-spot!).

Baguettes. You’re probably thinking right now, How can he have a problem with baguettes? They do seem to be a staple around here. Every store sells them, and you see people walking home from work with one in a wrapper. The problem is that the hard crust gets almost rock-like after one day, and the inside becomes one massive long crouton! We do like baguettes, but we don’t typically eat a lot of bread, so ours were going to waste (and possible to our waists) the following day. They’re not terribly expensive, but it still seemed a shame to throw them away. Our solution? We moistened a paper towel, wrapped it around the baguette, and put it back into the wrapper and closed off the end. Our baguette lived to get eaten another day!

What improvisation have you done when traveling? I’d be happy to share your story with others if you want to send an email to stuart.a.gustafson@gmail.com

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Au revoir for now!

Stuart Gustafson