House Hunting

Bill and I went house hunting yesterday in our desired location. We only had two on our list, and it didn't take us long to rule out the first one.

Before I tell you about the second, I want to give you an idea of what we are looking for. We want to be able to "age in place" in our next home. Hopefully, we have a lot of ambulatory years left, but someday, one or both of us are likely to have problems negotiating stairs. One of us may have to use a walker or wheelchair eventually. So a one-story home makes the most sense.

I may have already mentioned that I want to continue to have a garden, and I'd like to have chickens and enough outdoor space for the grandchildren to play. Most new homes these days are on small lots, so it seems to make sense to find an older home. I've had quite a bit of experience designing remodels, and I relish the challenge of making our last home perfect for us. An older ranch-style home on a good-sized lot would seem to be a good choice.

Now about that second home we looked at. The three photos on the realtor's web site were indistinct, but the description of the yard caught my attention. Indeed, the yard had wonderful potential, with tall cedars in the back, a charming tool shed, and lots of room for kids, chickens, and a garden. However, despite my well-developed imagination, the house could never be made right for us. The layout, the weird roof, the blue vinyl siding ... all were wrong.

So the best I can say is that the journey has begun for real. I'm sure there will be many more chapters before we find the home that will suit us.