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.