Friday Fiver

Home Sweet Home

1. Are you a frequent mover, or do you prefer to stay put?
My preference would be to anchor myself to a home and remain there until the second coming. Since when has my preference for anything been a factor in how life turns out? From 1996 to 2003 we moved 6 times. That's 6 times in 7 years. For someone who is not a fan of yo-yo's, there was alot of back 'n forth, back 'n forth between my parent's place (our haven inbetween homes) and whatever house we lived in, for too many years.

2. If given the choice, which would you prefer: big house and long commute, or small house and short commute?
I feel awfully blessed. I think I have a big house (certainly large enough to suit our needs) and a short commute (12 minutes). The best of both worlds. But if I had to make a choice? Small house, short commute. I would constantly be in a PMS-type pissy mood if I had to drive for more than an hour every day.

3. Do you prefer to do your own repairs and decorating, or hire a professional?
These are 2 totally different questions. No way should repairs and decorating be used in the same sentence like this. They are not kin. They are not activities that require the same skills. I will always hire a professional or call my dad for any and all repairs. Period. I am not interested in figuring things out. I don't care what makes a thermostat tick. Or what makes it malfunction. Don't make me think.
On the other hand, I am somewhat interested in decorating. NOT as a hobby or ongoing, never-ending project...but as a way of making my home mine.

4. Do you prefer a big open living area, or a cozy space?
It depends on how many people will be using that space. If it's just meant for just one or two people, like, say, a bedroom, bathroom, or laundry room - then small, efficient and cozy are good. But if it's an area intended for gathering and visiting (family room, kitchen, dining room) then the bigger the better. No walls, lots of seating, bright natural light and much openness. But that's just my opinion. Based on Wednesday's craft nights and Friday's video nights.

5. What features are important to you in a home (state-of-the-art kitchen, fireplace, screened-in porch, etc.)?
In 2002/2003 when I was looking for THE home in which to finish raising my sons, these were the must-haves on my check-list-from-hell-that-drove-my-realtor-crazy:
1. Four bedrooms. I wanted each child to have his own private space. All of their roooms had to be the same size so that there would be no "he got the better room" issues requiring therapy in their adulthood.
2. Attached two-car garage. So that when I come home by myself, I can drive safely into an enclosed, lockable space and enter my house free from the fear of getting mugged for my grocery money and protected from the elements. (I don't look good wet.)
3. Southernly backyard. For tanning. (I look thinner with darker skin.)
4. NO peach or pink stucco. I am raising boys. Young men. Future manly men. Besides feminine coloured stucco is a California/Florida thing. NOT a Canadian west coast thing.
5. Close to my kids' friends' families, so that after 10 years of being soley responsible for getting my kids to and from school, carpooling to three different schools with four separate families would be a new game we could learn play.

It took forever, but finally after 11 months, this house, which was close to perfect, came on the market. I bought it 10 minutes later. Then spent two months renovating the peach, purple and turquiose interior to make it ours.

Notes: (3 years after getting 4 out of 5 things on my must-have list)
1. No one has complained thus far that someone's bedroom is better than theirs.
2. The garage has been filled with chippies for two years now, so I get wet coming and going. Which changes to steam quickly, what with the encroaching menopausal heat radiating off my person most times. Not to mention the anger-warmth that gets generated every single time I can't use the garage ....
3. That southerly back yard is not as nice to tan in as, say, the beach, or the lake. So far, my back yard sees me watering and weeding. But rarely enjoying. Or tanning. Tis shameful, actually.
4. This was my one compromise. The house I live in wears a lackluster mantle of faded peach stucco. I told myself I would get it painted a manly brownish grey as soon as possible. What with my trip to Europe, the new appliances, bi-monthly vehicle repairs and a commitment to being at Creationfest every year - "as soon as possible" just hasn't happened yet. I cringe every time I come up the driveway.
5. Scattegories, Sudoku, Scrabble or even Strip Poker are games more fun to play than Carpooling.

Three things I'm thankful for:
1. We survived. Experienced every emotional feeling possible and left exhausted. But thankful the way things have turned out. It will be a great year.
2. Friends, who at the last minute, respond positively to an impromptu invite to browse at Ikea.
3. A quiet afternoon.

Shalom,