With the passing of another Thanksgiving, I'm reminded of all the things I'm thankful for, including my 1969 ranch house.
I love my house because...
1. ...its 1,500 square feet (including two tiny bathrooms) doesn't take a week to clean.
2. ...we all "live" in the same area. We can get away from each other, but there is plenty of interactivity in the main rooms of the house. Yes, this means we occasionally trip over toys in the living room, but whatever; it worked just fine for 1960s families!
3. ...it's affordable. My husband was laid off a year ago, but we've been OK financially, in large part because we were living within our means.
4. ...it's in a diverse neighborhood: retired people, young families, white people, brown people, disabled people, and the occasional homeless dude wandering down the main street.
5. ...we don't have to adhere to any crazy neighborhood association rules, dictating what color curtains we can have or for how long the garage door can remain open. Hell no! We do what we want and it all works out. Take my neighbor Bill's excellent Christmas light display (pictured), probably only 50% finished at the time of this photo. I'm not sure it'd fly in a fancier "community".
For instance: I attended a 3-year-old's birthday party recently at a new subdivision during which the association president came to complain about the petting zoo temporarily parked on the amenity center's lawn. That wouldn't happen where I live, friends.
Sounds a little like where I live. Don't forget how easy it is to clean out the gutters & hang holiday lights, too ;)
ReplyDeleteThat sentence that included the terms "new subdivision" "association president" and "amenity center" just makes me shiver in horror. My niece just moved into a subdivision like that and it reminded me again why I love living in the country where up until last year you didn't even need a building permit to put up ANYTHING! You are lucky enough to live in Austin, and then your little neighborhood sounds absolutely wonderful. You are fortunate, indeedy!
ReplyDeleteAmen! I'm real thankful for your wonderful neighborhood Jennie. I can't wait to drive through and see the XMAS lights. My mother once got into a jihad with a neighborhood condo association about having pink plastic flamingos and chili pepper lights on her patio. It happened while she was living in Connecticut. In one of the many irate letters they sent, the association asked her to please refrain from decorating with "trailer park accessories." There goes the neighborhood!
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Leah!
ReplyDeleteChristine, your neck of the woods sounds awesome, too!
Meredith, those former neighbors of your mom's are not our people.
Trailer park accessories? Wow, sounds like my kind of place. Your neighborhood sounds like what Joseph Eichler had in mind, less is more, diversity is key and affordability is everything. What a great neighborhood to live in.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jennie. Less to clean, less to heat, less to pay taxes on, less to pay mortgage on. And quite enough in most every respect.
ReplyDeleteWe are so sympatico, ladies!! Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Jen! Our 1500 sq ft 1963 Ranch Style home has served us well for the past 27 years and we love it! While so many of our friends were building big new homes, we settled for what we've got and never regretted it. Our kids grew up here, and they can also tell you that keeping it simple really does work!
ReplyDeleteI love that testimonial, Cathy!! Our household includes a 3-year-old, and I love to think he will grow up in that house, too. Thank you!
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