That last post reminded me that I still haven’t answered Jody‘s question from way back when:
I’m wondering, why do you think you’re a house-mover? Because I feel like, there are people who are totally comfortable and excited about moving houses every few years (my in-laws, several of our neighbors who are getting antsy, etc.) and then there are people who stay put, even when they could trade up by moving (ME). We’re refinancing now, which meant doing the calculations on whether to pay points, etc., and I had to admit to myself that we’re not moving before the kids graduate college (if the fates allow, god willing, ptooey, ptoeey, ptoeey) and part of me wondered why, since there’s so much that I don’t like about this place, we DON’T look around. But the idea of moving? GAH. So, do you think it’s just a temperament thing? What you grew up doing/not doing? Total randomness?
This is an interesting question to me. I love houses. I really do. I like to look at them, imagine living in them, identify and fix their flaws. I go to open houses for fun and I (due to my great spacial and visual memory) can tell you all about the layout and details about many, many of my neighbors’ houses. I love looking at house plans. If you follow me on pinterest, you will only find house pictures. I like to imagine living in different cities or neighborhoods. I also love figuring out what houses would be a good fit for other people. If it wasn’t such a bad fit for our lifestyle, I would love to be realtor.
When I was growing up, my mom and dad talked about building their dream house for many years. When they finally built it, I got to design my room & the Jack and Jill bathroom I shared with my sister and that was fun. After about six years in that house, they moved to a different house (with flaws) that is on a lake, which was a different kind of dream. We also moved every 3-4 years when I was growing up. I think I have lived in about 17 houses including all the apartments and places I lived in college and before I got married.
When we sold our last house and started looking for the Forever House, I assumed we would be doing a full gut renovation. That was not nearly as appealing to me as building a house, but I just never thought there was any chance we could get a lot that didn’t already have a house here. We did talk a little about tearing a crappy house down, but that didn’t seem particularly cost effective.
For me, every new house feels like it is full of possibilities. Even the idea of moving into a new rental is appealing because it will solve some problems this house brings to my life (mainly the time suck of fixing everything). Once I move in a house, I have to start dealing with the faults of the new house which is not so fun.
The hassle of moving doesn’t bother me either. A sick part of my brain really loves organizing and throwing junk away, so moving means we get to purge then I get to organize a whole new house. Then, I get I don’t really enjoy the process of fixing things, but I do like seeing the improvements at the end of the process.
I don’t know why I like houses. It is kind of like asking why I like to read. I just do. I recently found Hooked on Houses and the house forums at Gardenweb which show me I am not alone in my house love. I know building the new house will be unpleasant, but I am hoping it will be worth it in the end.
I decided that ideally I’d move every 5 years, it seems like after that long the house starts to get cluttered and I hate clutter. My mom and dad lived in the same house through 8 kids, they just added on 5 times – mom still lives there I think it’s been 50 years+
I went from my 1937 Cape Cod to a new townhouse when I brought my daughter home 7-years ago it’s boring and plain, but it’s cheap and I don’t have to struggle to make my house pmts. We are in a great neighborhood, and it’s a neighborhood, houses across the street, we’re 2 blocks from school, 1 block from one sister, 10 minutes from another sister, and 7 minutes from my mom.
I look at houses constantly too, I have a plan for my forever home picked out (http://www.ahmanndesign.com/plan-details.php?id=1505) There are only 2 things that I don’t love about it – multiple entrances to the bathrooms, and not being able to see the street from the great room. But until I find the perfect lot, in a neighborhood I want to live in forever I’m staying put, so there is still time to look:)
I used to feel that way until I decided I wanted to pay this house off in 10 years and travel during my summers off. Living in an ok house is fine with me if I can spend July and August on a lake in Maine or like this summer in a bungalow on a sandy beach in Asia with my kids.
When I think about these things, I realize that I just default to “stay in one house.” You’re right — it’s not really explainable. It’s not actually the hassle of moving that stops me house-huntin. I like thinking about floor plans and trading up. I just have this assumption: “people buy one house and live it in their whole lives, and if it’s not perfect, they renovate.”
I think it has something to do with not wanting to leave memories behind? But the trade-off is not getting to make new kinds of memories?
Anyway, I’ve been playing in my mind with what it would feel like to move houses before the kids start high school. So far, it still doesn’t feel right. (And I think the kids would veto leaving this house in a heartbeat.) But you never know….
Jody recently posted..Experience vs. Memory
Ha. I was just thinking this morning that I really really want to STAY PUT for awhile though not necessarily where we live right now. But where? I think we end up moving about by default. I really don’t enjoy it. I do, however, enjoy thinking about how to fix other people’s houses.
Elaine recently posted..Hope Springs…
“The hassle of moving doesn’t bother me either. A sick part of my brain really loves organizing and throwing junk away, so moving means we get to purge then I get to organize a whole new house.”
This is also why I LOVE moving. I was actually thinking of being a professional organizer at one point. I also love change. I get bored when I am in one place too long. I love houses too!
An recently posted..Waiting…
ME TOO! I know some of our friends think we’re insane as we embark on another house project, but it is really cool to live in all sorts of houses. I’m more excited about the upcoming project than about our previous ones. And it’s the least attractive house of the bunch. But the great location, the amazing light, and ability to do it all while not having to live there is pretty thrilling. That and my dream stove. Some people go back to the same places on vacation year after year. I would find that too limiting but for some that is their comfort zone. Houses are the same way. My parents have lived in their house for 40 years.They travel but they don’t enjoy it, really. My sister, my brother and I are serial movers and we will all hop on a plane and go anywhere for any reason. And Gardenweb is dangerous. I can get sucked into that appliance forum for hours….