As the largest homebuilder in Dallas for two consecutive years, Dallas Area Habitat completed 174 homes in 2011, an increase of 109 homes from the previous year and the largest number of homes built in one year in the agency’s 25-year history.

Dallas Area Habitat’s vision is that all individuals and families live in thriving neighborhoods where hopes and dreams are realized for generations to come. Since 1986, it has served more than 1,000 low-income families by using homeownership as an anchor for hope, change, and fellowship.It has invested $120 million in more than 20 neighborhoods, building homes that account for more than $2 million annually in property taxes in Dallas County.

Moving forward - second year in retirement

Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful program wherein families have the opportunity to own their own home.  Each family is required to put in 400 hours on their home and hours can be accumulated by family members are even donated by friends.  They make interest only payments so the homes aren't free.

This last week, they had a special "blitz" build for five days to get 11 homes to the "dried in" stage so I volunteered for that as well.  In addition to about 40 local volunteers there was about 125 Americorp young people that were brought in from all over the United States.

The slabs all were previously poured prior to our starting:

The following picture is after a couple of days with the wall panels up:

The next picture was taken at noon on Friday.  They told us to totally stop work at 12:00, go eat (they fed everyone under a huge tent every day) and start cleaning every thing up after lunch.

I wasn't accustomed to this type of work and was totally exhausted at the end of each day from carrying lumber, running a nail gun by nailing fascia boards overhead, swinging a hammer, sawing, etc.  It was really a super exeperience and the Americorp "kids" were a pleasure to work with.

Now that I have been retired from the FDIC for about a year and a half, I seem to be floundering some as far as what to do with my time.  I have travelled some with the Texas Baptist Men doing church building and Christian Camp building but that doesn't seem to fit real well.

I have been volunteering regularly with Habitat for Humanity helping to build houses and like it but that is mainly once per week.  I will be working next week all week helping with a "Blitz" build wherein Habitat is going to erect 11 houses all the way to the "dry in" stage.  Hopefully I can stand up to the amount of exertion that will require.