I don't peruse blogs a heck of a lot because I just don't have time. (This is Conniespeak for I lose all track of time and can spend hours looking and not get anything done I need to!) I use Google Reader for my favorites and look at them quickly through that medium and if it looks interesting that day, I click on the blog and go there to leave a comment or view the whole thing. Why do I do it like this? Because it saves time with all the ads on Blogger now. Time for all them to come up can be several minutes in some cases. (AdBlock definitely helps though getting around all the ads though!) Anyway, that's how I do it. And if you haven't heard of AdBlock, it's just to the right below the photos of me on my sidebar, and tells you where to get it.
Anyway, I read a lot about women dreaming about their dream house or buying a house waiting for their Dream House to come along. I haven't yet met anyone who has actually found their dream house. That's why it's called Dream House—you dream about having it, but most women never, ever have their dream house. I don't and never will. What I do have is a seven year old, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 3 car garage, family room, living room house that is sufficient for my needs...and hubby's needs also. My mortgage is about $440 a month but I pay a lot extra so we can pay it off sooner. That's my dream house. Not a Mercedes, pool, fancy large house. We live quite comfortably, just the two of us. Small yard for hubs to mow and not kill himself doing in the heat of this desert summer. I truly don't lust for some of the homes I'm going to show you below and in another post soon.
Why do we think we need more than we do? Hollywood-types and some very wealthy live in 12,000 square foot homes but don't actually live in them. They flaunt them. That's not my style. I do NOT begrudge the rich anything. I find simple things make me happier than large homes to clean or with which to try and impress others. I'm debt-free except for my house. Why would someone want a million-dollar-plus home? A modest home can serve your needs quite well. Trust me, we've been through the cycle of having a house to flaunt and this is much better. I was so glad to get rid of the big home I cried when we finally did—and those were truly tears of joy.
A friend of our daughter's built a two-million dollar, 20,000 square foot home up in the wilds of Oregon (Isn't Oregon wild everywhere though?) several years ago when he made a fortune selling off his company stock and making millions off it. When our daughter visited with them recently, she said the house is filthy. Absolutely filthy. She and her husband couldn't stand to be in it. It was totally gauche. They didn't even worry about keeping it clean or even the upkeep on it. They couldn't! She said she'll never go back there again. The house is just in a shambles.
The rich and/or famous aren't any better than you; they just have more house to clean and more money, but they have more struggles than you, just look at the papers and magazines. I rest my case. Frankly, I'd rather have the struggles I do have; they're familiar to me. I truly mean this from my heart.
But if you insist on lusting, here are a few that might suit you.
Waterfalls are notoriously noisy.
Of course, this is small, but could be someone's dream home and not cost you millions to acquire it.
Having had a pool in our last house I can assure you they require a lot of upkeep, i.e. MONEY.
Anyway, I read a lot about women dreaming about their dream house or buying a house waiting for their Dream House to come along. I haven't yet met anyone who has actually found their dream house. That's why it's called Dream House—you dream about having it, but most women never, ever have their dream house. I don't and never will. What I do have is a seven year old, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 3 car garage, family room, living room house that is sufficient for my needs...and hubby's needs also. My mortgage is about $440 a month but I pay a lot extra so we can pay it off sooner. That's my dream house. Not a Mercedes, pool, fancy large house. We live quite comfortably, just the two of us. Small yard for hubs to mow and not kill himself doing in the heat of this desert summer. I truly don't lust for some of the homes I'm going to show you below and in another post soon.
Why do we think we need more than we do? Hollywood-types and some very wealthy live in 12,000 square foot homes but don't actually live in them. They flaunt them. That's not my style. I do NOT begrudge the rich anything. I find simple things make me happier than large homes to clean or with which to try and impress others. I'm debt-free except for my house. Why would someone want a million-dollar-plus home? A modest home can serve your needs quite well. Trust me, we've been through the cycle of having a house to flaunt and this is much better. I was so glad to get rid of the big home I cried when we finally did—and those were truly tears of joy.
A friend of our daughter's built a two-million dollar, 20,000 square foot home up in the wilds of Oregon (Isn't Oregon wild everywhere though?) several years ago when he made a fortune selling off his company stock and making millions off it. When our daughter visited with them recently, she said the house is filthy. Absolutely filthy. She and her husband couldn't stand to be in it. It was totally gauche. They didn't even worry about keeping it clean or even the upkeep on it. They couldn't! She said she'll never go back there again. The house is just in a shambles.
The rich and/or famous aren't any better than you; they just have more house to clean and more money, but they have more struggles than you, just look at the papers and magazines. I rest my case. Frankly, I'd rather have the struggles I do have; they're familiar to me. I truly mean this from my heart.
But if you insist on lusting, here are a few that might suit you.
Waterfalls are notoriously noisy.
Of course, this is small, but could be someone's dream home and not cost you millions to acquire it.
Having had a pool in our last house I can assure you they require a lot of upkeep, i.e. MONEY.
Older homes also require a lot of money sometimes. It isn't worth it to me.
A beautiful home.
A mite more modest, but I'm sure it's someone's dream home.
Unusual but lovely with that front circular porch.
I'd want more privacy than this house affords.
Somewhere near the sea, I'd bet.
I just had to show you these two exquisite lamps—floor...
and table.
Hanging roses lanterns.
And of course, the requisite eye candy. ;-)
More kitchen than I'd want to clean.
Love the color in here though.
And especially this pink color!
So, love what you have and be happy you have it. That's my bottom line!
Connie, how right you are. Yes, it is lovely to own a spacious house, but as you get older practicality has to come in. We have down sized in order to get back to UK, and it's not the end of th world!
ReplyDeleteGood advice Connie. It's nice to dream but you really should be happy with what you've got. I agree about that huge kitchen. Who'd want to clean that?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE to look at the HUGE houses, but I don't want one - it's too much to keep clean.
ReplyDeleteI am perfectly happy with my 1780 square foot DREAM HOME, complete with my DREAM KITCHEN!! Some people get all bent out of shape when they find out that I live in a Manufactured Home...but not me. I've even been called "Trailer Trash" - imagine that, just because I live in a Manufactured Home Community. I love my house.
Have a blessed day, Connie...
Jan ♥
I love the house I live in. I grew up in it and it is just the right size for me. I can teach piano and live here. the houses were pretty to look at but I wouldn't want to clean them! A bigger house just means more to clean. i agree about the famous, I wouldn't want their problems at all. I will keep the ones I have and they can have theirs too.
ReplyDeleteHeather
Yes, Connie, I agree with what you said. I just have a small one bedroom apartment. I just lost my locker downstairs. They took the tenants' lockers away because they're going to build apartments where the lockers were. So, that's tough. All my stuff is in a corner of my bedroom and I had to take out a big dresser and put it in the hallway. But, I'm not going to live like that. I'll just have to give the stuff away, that's all. The dresser needs to go back into my bedroom.
ReplyDeleteA second bedroom would be nice but I'm certainly not going to give them over $250.00 more a month for that extra room. I don't feel sorry for myself, either. I'm happy with what I have. Plus, I have my dollhouse, my dolls, and all my miniatures that I enjoy tremendously fiddling around with. And, that makes me very happy.
I love that small cottage you showed in the third pic. We need to downsize as we get older, as you know. And, my small kitchen requires enough maintenance. I would not want to waste my precious time cleaning those huge kitchens. Thanks for the eye candy. A la prochaine!
The sweet cottage speaks the most to me. It just says "home". :) Love the way you decorate.
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate your treasured friendship and lovely support.
A lovely day dream and now Im glad I only have my own little cottage to take care of... come to think of it, though, most of those household probably have hired help!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think the key is to make the house you have work for the way you currently live. This requires thinking outside the box. We have a living room that has been turned into a music room where my adult daughter gives piano lessons to children every week. This is a far better use of that space than having it sit empty for most of the week. If you make your home work for the way you live, it can become your dream home. The smaller your home is the more money you can put into upgrading the materials such as stone counter tops for kitchen and baths. A few splurges can make improve the quality of your daily living. One final thought... dream homes always have fresh flowers- why not make it a point to have fresh flowers in the rooms you use the most?
ReplyDeleteah connie, you DO live beautifully ! (())
ReplyDeleteI like to dream about those kinds of houses more than I'd like to live in one - they are lovely but I have more simple tastes, which is good because I also have a simple budget.
ReplyDeleteI am with you. I personally think those of us with less or happier. At least, we can want far somethings, and they just go get it. Money will not buy health or happiness. Just helps to provide our basic needs.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is....if you can afford this kind of house, and a kitchen like that, you have money to let someone else clean it all. :)
ReplyDeleteI would have loved the 'down by the sea' one years ago when I was young...now that I'm in the winter season of my life, I would rather have a little 2 bedroom mobile home on a small lot by a little lake. :)
While they are lovely to look at - a big house has never been my thing ~ I have so many things I love to do that does not include constant cleaning. Simplicity is so peaceful - thanks for a wonderful post and Happy Pink Saturday to you, Dru
ReplyDeleteMy pick would be the little cottage, especially if it were sitting in Carmel! Happy Pink Saturday. ~Marti
ReplyDeleteI'm with you my son has one of them big houses,
ReplyDeleteI like mine just as much.
I would like some one to clean mine
Connie you have nice blog ever PS
Those houses are so beautiful. Hard to pick one:(
ReplyDeleteVisiting for Pink Saturday- hope you can stop by..
http://www.sweetposh.info/2012/06/pink-swimsuit.html
Connie, Can you imagine living in a little mobile and then looking at the beautiful home you have. Some would say you have a huge house. You are very fortunate (Sp?) and I know you'll be happy to pay it off early. We should all be happy with what we have and I am. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteMarilu
The picture of the first house is amazing. But I am with you, I would have no desire to clean all of that. I live in a house with 1300 square feet and some days keeping it in good shape is overwhelming with everything else in my life. But the pictures are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteSherry
All those amazing houses look too expensive to own. But it's great for me to dream about them. =)
ReplyDelete