#20: Staycations, Home Repair Nightmares & The Curse of Stuff-itis

Welcome to Episode 20 of Doing the Most!
Scarlet and Mitchell are back — caffeinated, chaotic, and fresh off a “staycation” that went absolutely nothing like planned. From dreams of productivity to real-life drywall sagging, leaks, existential crises, and a whole lot of straddling in the shower (context matters, people), this episode covers it all.

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In This Episode

• Staycation Expectations vs. Reality

Mitchell begins hopeful: tidy the garage, clear the studio, fix a leak, maybe even relax.
What actually happens? …Not that. At all.

Scarlet, ever the realist, focuses on laundry, exercise, meditating, drinking less, and tackling the infamous kitchen ceiling stain.

• The Great Shower Leak Saga

The shower has been leaking for months — but only if you stand in the middle (Mitchell’s “straddle technique” has been masking the problem).
Cue:

• Misdiagnosed drain issues
• ABS pipe mysteries
• A two-day battle with a corroded nut
• A ceiling cut open slightly larger than intended
• Mitchell and his son tag-teaming tools in a cramped ceiling cavity

Still leaking? Yes. But less leaking. Progress?

• The Bathtub That Hasn’t Worked Since 2021

A flashback to Scarlet pregnant, taking a bath, and water cascading into the basement.
Mitchell thinks he has it solved… until a new leak appears above the fix.
Cue despair.

• Homeownership vs. Renting — A Debate

The couple dives into the philosophical and financial purgatory of maintaining an aging home:

• Is owning actually worth it?
• Would renting be easier?
• Is equity overrated?
• Why does every home repair require cutting a hole in something?
• Why does Kohler call within 0.0003 seconds of you clicking submit?

Scarlet: Wants simplicity, maybe a rental in Portland.
Mitchell: Wants someone else to deal with leaks, wiring, ceilings, roofs, and the existential dread of homeownership.

• The Psychology of Stuff-itis

Mitchell’s term for the overwhelming accumulation of things — especially in the garage.

Symptoms include:

• Narrowing pathways
• Boxes that stare at you accusingly
• Emotional spirals
• The Peter Penguin Dance to navigate clutter
• Romantic fantasies of a tidy workbench lifestyle that may never come

Scarlet, meanwhile, is unbothered: “This is a lived-in home.”

• Holiday Spirit (Sort Of)

They put up the Christmas tree early because their son remembered a promise.
Does it feel festive? Hard to say.
Does the house still leak? Yes.

• What They’re Watching

PLUR1BUS on Apple TV+ (Rhea Seehorn + Vince Gilligan)
Four Seasons — comedy perfection for couples who argue about chores and plumbing.

• Haircut Anxiety: The Final Act

Mitchell vents about:

• Barbers who don’t use enough clipper pressure
• The sacred ear-crease hairs
• The delicate dance of returning to a barbershop without offending anyone
• The elusive search for someone who cuts firmly and consistently
• The emotional trauma of switching stylists
  Scarlet: “Maybe just… tell them what you like?”

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Favorite Moments

• “Straddle the drain so it doesn’t leak!”
• “Do the Peter Penguin Dance to get to the workbench.”
• “This staycation stole my soul.”
• “You romanticize everything.”
• “If you know a good plumber… please send help.”

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Call to Action

Have thoughts on renting vs. owning? Send us your feedback!
DM us on Instagram or TikTok: @lescatsplease
Find full episodes and clips on YouTube: @lescatsplease

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