We’ve been in our new house now for almost nine months; and with the holidays over and the days gradually getting longer, we’re ready to tackle more projects to personalize the place to our liking. Outside work consumed most of the summer, and then there was getting everything unpacked and sorted out. Having time to live in the space for a while, we now want to get some color on the walls and add a few features here and there.

Top of the list is to upgrade our entertainment system and install some speakers, both inside and out on our patio/deck area. Except for a newer turntable and CD player/changer, everything we have is about 30 years old, from Harry’s single days. It’s all quality equipment, but he’s been itching to replace the big old cabinet speakers (I won’t miss them, either) with surround sound and adopt 21st-century technology. Let me state right up front that I don’t have a clue about any of this. I can turn it on and make it play what I want; but aside from knowing there are such things as subwoofers, amps and tweeters, all the details are lost on me. But checking out all the options and dreaming dreams of shiny new equipment has put Harry in hog heaven. 

Call me sexist, but I think the whole fascination with all that media technology is primarily a guy thing. I’m not saying women don’t appreciate great sound or video in their entertainment, but most don’t seem to get really wrapped up in the minutia like a lot of the men I know. I am more than happy to turn over to my husband the decisions on what we should have and how and where it should be installed. I get a vote on what the exterior of the console will look like in which the various components will sit, and that is about it. Oh, and I of course will have an opinion on the bids we receive for those components and the labor to install them.

Which brings me to that “keeping up with the Gateses” bit. Dave, who works for a highly respected media company here, came by the house this week and spent more than an hour-and-a-half discussing options and equipment with Harry. He mentioned that he used to work for the company in Seattle which installed the media systems in Bill Gates‘ and Paul Allen‘s houses. Oh, my. When we lived up north, we traveled at least once a week across the 520 bridge that spans Lake Washington and allows decent views of the Gateses’ enormous compound. Construction took two or three years, and there were nearly constant news stories on the amazing technology being incorporated into the place. Among them: Each person in the home wears a pin which contains the wearer’s preferences as to lighting, temperature and music. As one moves from room to room (or building to building, in the case of the Gates compound), this little transmitter “talks to” receivers in the space, and the elements in the room adjust accordingly (with precedence assigned to whomever one chooses; I presume Bill is No. 1 in his house!).

Now, we’re not looking to install anything remotely like that in our humble little abode, but you might imagine that Dave doesn’t mess around with cheap equipment, either. Let’s just say that when I spotted the price for the “remote control processor” with the “emitter connecting block and five emitters,” I let out an audible gasp. Yep, I think I’m going to have an opinion about that little item.

I imagine there are those who would love to be able to boast that the guy who installed Bill Gates’ media system also installed theirs — and that probably does draw in clients for Dave and his crew. I’m not one to begrudge my sweet, hard-working man an excellent sound system, either, and we certainly do want someone who knows how to do quality work with fine components. I think we’ll just look at dropping back a step or two from the atmospherically high-end parts, though. After all, we’re not quite on a par with Bill and Melinda, just yet.

— Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader