seven / ten

i figured, how hard can it be to make a list of ten reasons we want to buy a house. how hard is that? honestly?

actually hard.

i asked matthew to make me a list of his reasons, for this blog and without my input (which is kind of a big deal, because we do next to everything together). while he leapt at the challenge, he only came up with seven. i made it ten but some of them might be a bit questionable. dear reader, i leave that to you to judge. here they are, in no particular order of importance.

matthew's list
1. wealth in solid form - i want to invest in land because i believe that property is a good first sign of wealth
2. privacy - i don't like sharing my space
3. my rules - no being dictated to by landlords ! (puppies?)
4. exciting project - an endless list of fun improvements to make with alex
5. in part because you (alex) want it so badly, i want to see you happy [GUSH]
6. space - need it! (storage space that is)
7. i vote in town meeting so it be nice to pay property taxes

alexander's list
1. dog
2. paying off a debt rather than giving $$$ to a landlord for an indeterminate amount of time
3. space: for guests, storage, more plants
4. projects in home
5. gardening!
6. a more firmly rooted place in the community
7. personal dream of owning an older home
8. starts a new chapter in the life of the owner
9. increases personal wealth which eventually leads to cafe ownership *
10. artistic safe space/hombodiness

* i understand that the idea of the majority of a persons wealth being tied up in their home is pretty much kaput at the moment, but there is some value historically to the status homeownership bestows on a person. and banks are more likely to lend to you once you show how responsible you are at paying a mortgage, amiright?

some clarification:
we have wanted a dog for just about as long as we've been together (seven years strong) and everywhere we've lived, we haven't been able to have one. our buddy, romeo the cat is a great substitute for the time being but nothing beats a four footed friend you can take for walks and who will lick your face. so whenever we talk about buying a house, getting a dog is a big part of that. like as soon as we have the keys we're going to dakin. so there's that.

i'm also an avid houseplant gardener but have mediocre light in our current apartment. this was one of the reasons i loved 253 silver street so much. that porch would have let me have a jungle of indoor foliage.


so what makes a reason valid for wanting to own a home? how do we know we're doing this for the "right reasons"? any thoughts you, dear reader, might have on the subject, would be greatly appreciated. and i promise, there will be another potential house posting very soon.