Where do you consider "home"? I don't really have a home. I live in a house...but it's not my home. I consider New Jersey my home STATE...but when I go home at the end of the day...I don't really go to a home.
I came close to having a home. The beginning of last year...I lived in a beautiful home. I loved that place. I never wanted to leave it. That was the first time...in a long time...that I felt like I was going home at the end of each day day or each outing. I could see myself living in that home until my kids were grown. There were things I wanted to fix in that home...and things I would never change. I wanted to buy that home. I was soooooooooooo sad when I had to leave. I think that was the worst part of my year because if I could have made it one more month, I would still be living there today.
What makes a house a home? I lived in a beautiful, brand new town home when I first moved to Virginia. New hardwood floors, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, fully carpeted upstairs with white carpet, living and dining room, garage, built in computer nook upstairs, black appliances...it was gorgeous. So beautiful, but never felt like home. It was beautiful to look at, but felt empty every day.
So to answer the question, "What makes a house a home?" I say the people, their spirits and their livelihood is what makes a house a home. I've been in other peoples' homes...I've seen some that were super messy and could use a deep cleaning, but felt like home. The people were so loving towards each other and had such a joyful time being around each other. I've also been in some homes that are super messy and need a deep cleaning, and the peoples attitudes and behaviors matched the way the house looked and felt. The house felt nasty...but the people were nastier.
On the flip side...I've been in pristine, wonderfully decorated, super clean, immaculate homes...that didn't feel like a home either. I hate being in a "home" where I'm scared to sit down...for fear of putting an imprint in the cushion or dropping a piece of lent on the armrest. Homes, to me, are meant to be lived in. Don't get me wrong, I do like clean homes and I understand taking good care of your belongings. However, I think sofas are supposed to get broken in...plastic should not remain on the cushions unless you have small children (but then again you should buy kid-friendly items to avoid having to leave the plastic on) and at some point...wine/kool-aid/soda is going to spill SOMEWHERE in the house and it should NOT be the end of the world.
Why am I stuck on this topic tonight? I don't know. Just daydreaming about my home and where/what it will be like. I can't wait to have my own place again. To decorate it the way I want...make my own rules...have my own traditions/routines with my kids and stuff. Do things the way that makes us happy...in OUR home. I want to be in a home where I know I won't have to move again. I've moved 14 times in the past 10 years...and that's not considering the times we had to stay in hotels until a placed opened up for us to live in.
Anyway...one day it will happen...
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