My house isn't perfect - just as nothing in life is perfect - but I love it and it's perfect for me right now. Sometimes I gaze longingly at houses that are at street level, that have a yard, that have an upstairs and a downstairs and I wonder when I'll live in a single family house and not a condominium. Answer is: I don't know exactly when that will happen. Truth be told, I thought five years ago that right about now I'd be making a transition to something different. That's when the housing market was still strong and gaining home equity was pretty much a sure bet. Not anymore. Technically now I'm paying considerably more each month compared to what the financial world says my home is worth, as are many people.
There's been a lot of news about the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina this week. Katrina was hitting just as I was unpacking boxes and finding new homes for my plates and spoons. I remember feeling incredibly sad and incredibly grateful as I watched reports of the devastation along the Gulf Coast. I had a place that I was responsible for. That I could love and feel comfortable in. While others were watching (even dying in) their homes as the waters took over.
Some days I give my place a little pep talk and tell it I know you're valuable and I still love you. My goal is to make some day everyday. Thanks, home, for keeping me warm in the winter, cool in the summer and giving me space to laugh and cry and sing and learn and fall asleep each night.
Thank you dearly for this reminder, Jill. I've been feeling a bit trapped and cramped by our condo, longing for a backyard and a vegetable garden and walls not shared with neighbors. But thank goodness I have a place to live and be safe! Thank you for sharing these words and helping me shift my perspective.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post, Jill! Just yesterday as I was tidying up for guests, I looked around and realized how much I love my home... and we thought we would be moving around the 5-year-mark, too... Good thing I have no desire to move right now! :)
ReplyDeleteMaking someday, everyday. Thanks Jill I needed to read that today. Thanks also for the reminder about being thankful for what we have right now and how that could be so different.
ReplyDelete"There but for the grace of god go I", is a phrase I try to always remember in so many situations in life. Things could be so very different in all our lives, couldn't they?
Congratulations on five years of home-ownership. And, thanks for the reminder that I should use my camera to catch pictures of ME doing every day things.
ReplyDeleteNice reflections. As I think about five years ago, I realize we can just never predict what comes next...and so yes, we absolutely need to be living for now and appreciating it everyday. XO.
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