Today I am grateful for my HOME.
This is the 15th dwelling place I've lived in during my life. It's still such a surprise to me to be here -- as I look back to last December at this time, I had absolutely no clue that so much would change in a year.
This house was built in 1947, and the front/original part has some traditional charm: a fireplace, a bay window with a window seat, original hardwood floors. About 20 years ago, a big addition was put on the back, and the character of those newer rooms is very different. We're talking 'open concept' with vaulted ceilings and built-in spotlights everywhere. Sigh. Not so much "me", as my taste runs more toward antique and quaint, but spacious and nicely updated nonetheless.
In any case, I am grateful for this safe pleasant place to live. The living spaces are comfortably adequate, and we are enjoying having ample storage for the stockpile of stuff we brought with us when we moved. The back of the house faces south, so we have nice cheerful sunshine for most of the day. The house is single story, which is a marvelous boon to our arthritis-y knees and hips. I especially like the placement and size of the laundry area. The front and back yards are securely fenced, giving the little boys plenty of safe outdoor space to enjoy. We are in a quiet well-kept neighborhood, very close to shopping and other facilities. Most importantly, we are less than ten minutes from family now, instead of the three hours travel time we faced before. And that's the whole ball game, right there, isn't it?!
We are fortunate to have a good place to live. As I look ahead, I know that given time, and more cozying up, this house will become HOME.
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