I am an enormous fan of HGTV, especially House Hunters and House Hunters International. Anyone who has ever watched these shows knows exactly what I’m talking about. It may sound boring to some, but for me, watching the angst people experience over whether they can afford their dream home…well… it’s like heroin.
Everyone wants their dream house, but here’s the problem.
In your vision, you are probably shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue when, really, you need to be pushing your buggy of dreams down the aisles of Wal-Mart.
Just a little reality check is all most folks need. Hey! I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I deserve and would look oh-so-divine driving around in a new BMW Roadster, but when I wipe the sleep out of my eyes and head for the garage in the morning, my Honda Civic just points and laughs. Life is cruel and so are small compact cars.
So, weird analogy aside. My point is, you don’t need to live in the Taj Mahal to be happy. I see these people night after night on House Hunters saying things like, ” Well, my husband and I just had a baby so we’re having to sell this cramped 5,000 square foot bungalow and move into something a little bigger.” Really?? What did you have exactly? A baby rhinoceros? How much room do 3 people need? Wow, glad I stocked up on sympathy cards. How has this couple not killed each other under such confined living conditions. I guess the “baby” needed more than just the east wing.
I think only Americans (and maybe a few lords and sheiks) feel the need to live in a structure large enough to house a jet. The rest of the world seems to get by on a lot less – god only knows how. If you’re NOT among those of us who think that perhaps we’ve gotten a little out of hand with this “must have” kind of mentality, here’s a good rule of thumb…
Your house is too big when a band of gypsies can move in undetected, and you don’t catch on until you open the fridge one day and say, “Who drank all the milk?” Why the gypsies of course! Because if your house wasn’t so freaking big, you might have noticed that your son refers to the old guy with the bandana, as ‘daddy’. I’m just saying – it’s either time to downsize or get a better security system.
I have faith that before long – with our European thinkin’ president – we will all be living in flats, driving scooters, and all of our appliances will be energy star rated. I for one will welcome it – along with the 6 weeks, government endorsed, paid holiday. :)
Cheerio!
