Let me first declare, here and now, that I live in a delightful house! It is like a fortress on a hill, with more space than we need, privacy to die for, and a pool that (when working) on a hot summers day, is better than butter on warm homemade bread.
So, that said … I am always experiencing ‘house wanderlust’ (I was going to write, ‘itchy foundations’ or ‘dreaming of the big house’, but I so love the romantic sound of the word ‘wanderlust’. I just had to work it in somehow … but, I digress).
Every spring the signs go up on the lawns of houses I have (I admit it) envied the owners of, for years. And then I envy some more … and then I head to my favorite real estate web site, and I look, and dream. And … I WANT to move!
I blame part of it on my personal tastes … traditional, character homes … not something that the area we live in has much of. And, to exaggerate things more the house we do live in is … west coast contemporary … so very far from traditional, character homes! Now, I repeat, it is a great house … it’s just so very far from my ‘dream house’ (and if you should know anything about me, from reading my posts, you should know that I am an unapologetic dreamer).
So, back in early April, as I was heading home after a walk with my beast, on my favorite trail, in my favorite place, I had a eureka moment! I decided, while driving home, past one property after another of character homes, that a certain one, when it went for sale (or when Oprah discovered my amazing talents and offered me a book deal, or TV program … I not picky), hubby and I would buy it!
I drove slowly past it, staring longingly, and dreaming of the day when I would have my hand squeezed lemonade, sitting in my antique rocking chair, on the front porch with hubby, and the beast … ahhhh!
And, I was able to drive by, and head home … contentedly, because I knew that one day, off into the future, it would be my home 🙂
And then, just a week later, the unimaginable happened …
I drove by and …
you got it …
… right out in front of my future dream house …
… a for sale sign!
Seriously … what was this about? I had just fought with my demons with this place, and had mastered contentment (hum, maybe contentment is not something to be attained on earth), about waiting … and now it was for sale?!
Not only that, but the real estate market is warming up here, and, two months later … IT IS STILL FOR SALE! And I drive by it about three times a week … oh, the torture!
And, still no call from Oprah!
itsawonderfilledlife 
Hubby and I say, skip the house and make an offer on the sporty auto out front. More importantly, does the home have a view of the riots?
Oh, you and Hubby do think similarly! The only riots on this front lawn would be if I let the beast loose on the squirrels!
We’ve been experiencing the same thing! Of course, we’re currently renting our home, so we have an excuse to be “looking” elsewhere. 😉
However, we just re-newed our lease, and haven’t set aside enough for a down payment on a home (yet)…
One particular early 1900’s farmhouse in the neighborhood was particularly tempting ~ it was on the market for over 6 months, completely vacant, and I even dared to trespass onto the property to take photographs of the gorgeous grounds, overgrown garden, and to peek inside the windows. 😉
Of course, as I wondered whether or not to blog about the house… because, as they say, you have to write down your dreams to “make them real”…..
The house SOLD!!! 😦
Perhaps I should’ve blogged about it after all!
Now I just have to hope the new owners decide to relocate across country. 😉
Oh Tara,
How frustrating to ‘fall in love’ with a place, and they see it sold to someone else.
There must be something even better in your future.
Carole
I LOVE your house – it would come close to my dream home (minus the yard upkeep). Have you looked into how much your dream house costs??
Hi Deb,
Oh ya! The dream house cost … it’s just a dream ….
Carole
[…] trip to the east coast, this past summer, did little to hinder my house ‘wanderlust’ (House Wanderlust). I felt as though I was in architectural heaven! Character abounds on the east coast, which for […]