Oh man, I’m in trouble now. All this time I’ve tried to avoid titles like this. Not that I don’t think of them, I do, I am a man after all, and sometimes a mischievous one. But I usually restrain myself so as not to offend anyone. But it’s late, and I’ve probably spent too many hours at the computer today. So I’m not fully in control of my facilities (or is that faculties?)… 🙂
In this case, though, the title refers to exactly what I’m talking about. In my previous post, I said small houses are better. But the comments and some completely unrelated reading I was doing have me wondering.
Maybe Size Doesn’t Matter!
Maybe what always has me saying that I like a little house more than a big one is simply that, out of the two houses we’ve ever lived in, the one we like better happens to be the little one. Maybe size is only part of the why.
There are so many other things to love about the house. The neighborhood is totally beautiful, the house is fifty steps from the edge of Charlotte Harbor, the really tropical plants grow here, the kitchen is bigger (didn’t remodel the kitchen in the other house yet), the master bedroom is smaller (other one is 14’x22′ which is just too big), we have 1000 square feet of outdoor deck space, and a tiki bar.
There’s the truth really…. we have a Tiki Bar! And a bigger kitchen. And an ocean. Duh.
In the last post comment, one family moved to a 30 acre horse farm that had a bigger house. Another moved to a 3400 square foot house because after a long time in the military, he got a job that paid enough to cover the big house. Another figured 2500 square feet was perfectly small!
The point I learned from you is that the size of the house doesn’t matter. It’s the life you live in it. It’s the way it makes you feel. Does your family feel comfortable, safe, loved, and happy? Do you spend all day cleaning or is it manageable? Do you like the location and the area overall?
Does the house have personality? That’s on strange thing about our house. When we leave the little house empty for any length of time, we actually feel bad, like we hurt it’s feelings. I told you it was late and I was squirrelly. But our little house has a personality. A nice one.
The green aspect of my post… that’s another matter. I’ll look more into that later. (I think I’ve just had a sticker placed on my back because my youngest is grinning ear-to-ear after just stopping by to give me a hug.)
What are your thoughts? It’s not the size of the house that matters?
This is a really thought provoking post! The Laurel Street cottage is a little less than 2,000 square feet. It is a very snug fit for us (actually, a little tight) but it is in a wonderful New Orleans location, has a big kitchen and a backyard (exception, not the rule in NOLA). Would we like more than 6 discrete rooms? Yes. I debate mentally doing a camelback on the house or buying a slightly larger home one day. But I try to make the most out of every square foot that we currently have – having a small house makes me work to get things just right.
I love New Orleans! Have only driven through at night since Katrina though. I’ve had the same thoughts with regard to adding a second floor on our little house. That is what camel back means, right?
Have a great weekend!