You know it's weird, the big world -shaking problems, they don't stress me. I can't do anything about COVID-19, I can't personally go and stop the riots or elect anyone to any office (other than doing my small part to vote etc) so I leave those things in God's hands no problem.

It's the little things that bug me and keep me up at night. The things that require me to make a decision. Then after I've made the decision, I sit and second guess it until i'm so mentally exhausted I just cant think on it anymore.

Remember my AC thread? Was that the right guy to hire? did he overcharge me? Should I fix the odd wiring or leave since the guy I hired is a pro?

Well, the latest thing is the gate to my fence won't close correctly. This gate is only 3 years old. I know the ground shifting has a lot to do with it, especially since it has now magically fixed itself (kind of) after the rains. But the guy I hired to build it doesn't seem to have braced it well, its a large 5 foot gate, but he only put 1 pole on the side that the gate is attached.

Anyway, since I had the gate built I've had all new fencing put in by a different guy, he did a great job and I was pleased with his work, so I called him out to look at it.

First he said he could fix it without having to rebuild it. Then he came back to do the repair and said that the best / permanent way to fix it is to tear out the gate, put another pole in and rebuild the gate using the existing wood. Then he offered to just rebuild the whole gate with western red cedar, stained (so it matches the fence he built me) and a 5 year warranty. So the price went from 200 for a brace job, to 400 to rebuild using the existing wood, to 600 for a brand new stained cedar fence. I told him I was leaning towards letting him build the new gate so I could have it done well and stop worrying about it.

Then I thought about making one of those anti sag gate kits (in the photo) using some aircraft cable, a turnbuckle and heavy duty eye bolts. That seems to have KIND of worked. It closes now, but I expect it will cause the gate to bulge and warp over time, also I had to tighten it so much that the eye bolts pulled out of the wood some. Easy enough to fix using a thru style carriage bolt. Even with the fix it still looks saggy and crooked, it does seem to be leaning where it is attached to the pole.

...this isn't even about the dang gate really, we are doing fine money wise and can afford any of the options (God is good). This real issue is I don't know why I can't just make a decision and relax about it. I know we aren't supposed to worry and be anxious but sometimes I cant seem to shake it. Then I feel guilty for being anxious, which leads to more anxiety, which leads to more guilt, then down and down we go.

anyways how's y'all doing?

Your fence builder should watch youtube. They will tell him how to build and brace a gate correctly.

What would hop do ? ? ? ?

TLDR... but someone should do something about that gate.

Paralysis by analysis....... I'm no expert but the whole thing looks out of whack, not level, too many joints in gate frame. The hardware on the opposite side could be part of it too.

Whatever or whoever you choose, have them explain exactly what they propose to make it better vs what is wrong.

Looks to me like a total new gate job is needed. Maybe have hinges on the "2" post side .

I'm kind of the same with decisions, always wonder if I made the right decisions especially with family type decisions. I stress hard about the family decisions drives me crazy,
drives my wife crazy as well that I'm that way.
When I'm at work I'm ok.

Two ft. screw anchor about 3 ft. from gate post and connect a cable and turn buckle to post and anchor. Cheap fix if what you did makes it work.

It would help if you had a level fence, but the fencing on the left side of the gate looks a good 2" taller than that on the right. Not sure you can ever have a level swinging gate on a sloping fence line.

In your present situation, I'd just put some rollers on the swinging end of the gate. Sort of a give up solution, but I don't know how else to improve it without tearing out and leveling that fence.

BTW, I moved my daughter into an apartment / town home after your last "A/C wiring" post and noticed the outside unit was wired like your "pro" did. Wouldn't have thought anything about it , keep posting.

Once you get the gate fixed we might need to have a talk about killing those weeds. We can't be having those.

huh you guys advice is actually making me feel better. If you all think it needs to be rebuilt, and you have no skin in the game (profit on the line) then that is pretty support for getting it done, Guess it's just another one of those homeowner things. I see the appeal of renting sometimes lol.

If that gate sagging one inch really keeps you up at night I would seek professional help.

Well before it rained it was sagging so bad that it wouldn't close. Might still need professional help though lol

Gates fine, it's your yard I'd worry about.

Take the gate loose from the hinges. Readjust it and drill holes and install bolts all the way through the wood. Less than an hour job including the trip to Home Depot. If that doesn't work I would suggest Prozac.