Even though it looks like it won't be all that big of a deal over here in Ft. Lauderdale, I put up all the shutters for the house.
You think living in a huge house on the ocean is nice? Remember that for the 60+ doors/windows, each one has shutter panels that go into place by hand. Only a few are accordion style and even those you need to go up a 24 ft ladder to get to. Having balconies is nice, but when the shutters are up, you have to climb over the rails and go down via a ladder.... and don't even get me started on walking on the roof 30+ feet in the air while it's raining to close the few that are accessible up there! My family used to have somebody they hired do it (a close family friend actually who had worked for my grandparents and my parents over 30 years or so), but he just moved to another state. My father has a bad leg and couldn't even make it through 45 minutes of exercise recently, and my mother can barely lift an 8 lb dumbell. So who does that leave? ME!
I'm ok with that and would even say that I'm happy to do it, but it would have been nice if I didn't have to do it all in the rain. It's scary being high up on ladders while it's raining, or being on the roof while it's raining. While I wear a harness, I don't trust it 100%.
In any case, 2 days of work later + a dozen changes of clothing and it's done. Everything is closed, locked, and hammered in place..... and I'm exhausted. I hope this storm doesn't hit us, but if it does, at least I'm ready.
For any South Floridians, I only have access to 2m and 440 right now, but if you want to get on a local repeater for either of those bands, let me know.
