I went to some open houses today with someone who’s in the market for a first home. I love looking at houses. I love architecture and decorating. And walking through other people’s homes is so interesting to me. It amazes me sometimes how a place that can look really good from the outside doesn’t always measure up on the inside. Or how places get remodeled in such strange ways. Most of what we looked at were vacant houses. Sadly, I think several were due to foreclosures. However, it allowed us to get a view of the house without the distraction of stuff, which usually helps. Open houses can be funny though.The one house that was still lived in was shown by the owners. They had massage music playing and followed us around a bit. I almost felt bad; it has to be frustrating and a little sad to see people wandering through your house, evaluating what you’ve called home for 15 years. At another house, we were followed around by a rather odd woman who insisted on asking us questions and giving her opinion. I’m all for being friendly, but there are some times that call for keeping to your own space. For me, the awkwardness of wandering through a potential home with strangers is one of them.

There were definitely elements of some of the houses I saw that I envied. Big stone or brick fireplace walls. A theatre room. A wraparound porch. Larger yards. More space or better layouts. But at the end of the day, I went home with a renewed sense of gratitude for my own place. I got a good deal on my house. It’s in a great location. It’s not my dream house, but it works for me at this point in my life. And I’ve had other houses, so I don’t feel like I’ve really missed out on some of those things. I owned a Victorian house that had two staircases, a turret, and two porches. I had a cute little bungalow with an attic bedroom. I had a farmhouse on 10 acres with a stream going through. I’ve had the opportunity to change my decorating and remodel numerous times. And I still have that opportunity with my current house. Looking at places today gave me the desire to finish up some of the projects I started and also gave me some ideas for new ones I can consider. So I spent a while on Pinterest again tonight. I also cheated on Lowe’s and went to Menards where I found a great deal on a new light fixture and some outdoor items. It’s going to be a busy spring and summer around here.