Nov 8, 2010

My House

I had a nightmare last night. It involved us selling our wonderful 1920's Midtown bungalow and buying a new brick house in a suburban new development in Florida. There were so many things wrong with this. Let's list them:

1) I love my house and never ever want to leave it. (Unless it means we're moving some where cool like Europe or Boston.)
2)New house
3) Suburbs
4) Florida... I love the beach, but I'm not sure if its for me. I could be wrong on this point though.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes or insult anyone or their house. But new housing (unless I get to work with the architect and help draw up the plans and design) is not for me. I hate neighborhoods where all the houses are nearly the same.

Here is where I should pause and admit that yes, most of the other houses on my block are also bungalows, and yes, they all have a similar (but not the same!) floor plan. BUT, over 90 years each house has taken on a life and personality of its own. No house in our neighborhood is the same. And I love that. I'm willing to be that my 90 year old house has more charm and character than all of the new homes in one development. Trims, old knobs, scary basements, exposed brick, small fireplaces, all of these and more make our house a cool place to live.

Suburbs are great. I grew up in one. I understand why people like them, but its not for me. I love living in the city, walking to my favorite places, and being close to my neighbors. If I want to go anywhere outside of Midtown, it only takes me five minutes... unless its one of the outer-lying suburbs... which I hardly ever go to.

I love my house. From the moment I first walked into it at an open house, I knew it had to be mine. The high ceilings and big rooms had me at hello.

All of the above being said: we're experiencing some major plumbing problems. Like, we can't use any water until the plumbers get here tomorrow. No showers, no flushing toilets, can't finish the load of laundry, no washing dishes... Hmmm... it actually sounds like a vacation.

Anyways, despite our current situation, I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

But ask me again when I receive our plumbing bill.