The final decision

It was a great day yesterday, looking at houses. My parents joined us, since they were in town on a business trip.

1. The first house had the perfect yard, but needed many updates –which would be fine, if the price were lower. We could not justify buying such a spacious place with $800 in heating costs per winter month, and still have to pay top dollar for it. (this house is the black/white photo at the bottom of the collage)

2. Another was very practical and had a great value for the house that it was (had potential for DIY updates), but the neighbor seemed creepy and the house shared its yard with that very guy. (middle, right hand side of collage)

3. The smallest house was as yellow on the inside as on the outside, and in dire need of paint, new fixtures and a new kitchen. But the owners are 90 and 95 yrs old (still there — we met them) and the house exuded such a charm that I almost signed the papers right then. However, it didn’t have a yard, so that stopped me from immediately signing the papers. (middle, left hand side)

Finally, the 4th house,… it was clearly a beauty when it was first built. It seemed that there are currently renters there , involved in the occult. The air / spiritual atmosphere / karma (–if that helps some of you understand it better) was so dark, we all had physical reactions to it.  Even my father, a firm atheist, felt the place was strange.  We left without even bothering to look at the basement.  Sad, really, it was a great house; but I couldn’t endure staying in there a minute longer. (top right in the collage)

And then….. our agent said that we could still go look at the house for which I had canceled the showing.  My husband agreed.  As we drove up, the sun burst through the clouds and the winter day turned warm. (The weather probably caused some selection bias.) The front of the house is not my favorite, but the nice weather helped.  We stepped inside, and we all enjoyed the house as though we had come home.  I didn’t tell my husband how much I liked the house –he already knew.  We let the kids play with the toys lying in the kitchen (the owners have 4 kids of their own), while the rest of us went through the sunny, well-proportioned  rooms.  The house has a new roof, new insulation, new eat-in kitchen, a big laundry area in the basement, and a wonderful lay-out.  All in all, one feels great in that house –psychologically.

We went to a small lakeside pub for lunch. Over sandwiches and beers, we discussed the options.  Actually, I let my husband and father do the talking.   They didn’t come to a conclusion, but my father validated all my husband’s concerns.

Later, we took a walk by the lake. Our son threw rocks in a giant sidewalk puddle (the lake was still frozen, so puddles had to make do).  I watched him from a distance, while I stood with my husband and waited for his decision.  He was very quiet.  I felt completely at peace.  Big or little, fixer-upper or fixed-up: whatever house he chose, I knew it would be good.

What was his answer?  THE 5th HOUSE!  “If you promise me that we will not run after the highest standard of living, and that we will be generous givers to others, rather than spending money on comforts for ourselves.”  I was speechless, and felt rather serious –as if I had just been given a tremendous duty to fulfill.

I wish I knew better how to thank him. Most of all, I’m thankful that he makes the big decisions for us.  And of course, I’m very thankful to him for allowing me this dream house in which to work.