I also have an old house and can agree that the work is never done. It is like painting the golden gate bridge, once you think you finished you need to start again. The main project I am working on at the moment is insulating the attic for the winter. It is taking ages, especially in this heat where I can only spend 20 mins at a time in there, I call it Bikram insulation. I will take a leaf out of your book and wear my swimsuit although, I am sure that insulation will make me itch.