Since I missed the last two Fridays, here are my answers to a Friday Five from April 4, 2003.
1. How many houses/apartments have you lived in throughout your life?
Five. First was my parents’ house. I lived there from birth until I was 21, when I moved into the tiny house in Millersville where Jen and I lived as newlyweds. In 1996, we moved into the renovated firehouse in Mountville, which was a way cool place to live for a young couple with no kids. Dave will tell you that I was raised there, but that’s not the case at all. In 1998, we bought our first home, a poorly constructed townhome in Mountville. It was a mistake. We took a loss and bought our current home in 2001. We’re very happy here. In fact, I’m going to be buried in the basement when I die.
2. Which was your favorite and why?
I love my current house. It’s a great place to have a family. But I have to admit that the firehouse was cooler. So, it’s a tie.
3. Do you find moving house more exciting or stressful? Why?
I kind of like moving. But I also kind of hate it. You waste a whole lot of money every time you move, switching cable and electric, buying little odds and ends. But it’s still kind of fun to move into an empty house. Jen and I look at that like a blank canvas. In our current house, we bought it about two or three weeks before we moved in, so we took that opportunity to paint every room in the house a different color. Very cool. Drove my family nuts.
4. What’s more important, location or price?
In the end, location. Although once you reach a certain price point, nothing else matters.
5. What features does your dream house have (pool, spa bath, big yard, etc.)?
All of the above. Nice, high fence to keep the dog in and prying eyes out. Nice big pool. Hot tub. Huge yard. Daylight basement, all fitted up to be my computer and music room. Island in the kitchen for Jen; she’s always wanted one. Maybe an indoor pool, too. Why not? We’re dreaming here. Incidentally, my in-laws’ former neighbors recently bought a house with an indoor pool. But they don’t like to swim. Man, if I had an indoor pool, I’d be swimming every day. Get up and swim a few laps before work. Get home and float around for a while. Year round. Sweet.