My dream house.

[angledge]

So, for many years I have assumed that I knew what my dream house looks like. It was in a city (Philadelphia, mostly). It was a rowhouse, or a free-standing house on a small lot. The garage was in the backyard, maybe accessed via an alley. There was a garage apartment on top of it, occupied either by a tenant or by HPG's mom. It had a rooftop deck with a skyline view, & was located in an awesome neighborhood with tons of bars, restaurants, & other city amenities.

But lately, this dream has changed - a LOT. I want a house with a southern exposure. The roof is covered with photovoltaic solar panels. The kitchen has a south-facing window with a huge herb garden. The walls are thickly insulated & the windows are super energy-efficient. There's a big wood-burning stove that provides a lot of the house's heat. There is a big yard, with a chicken run, a big garden, & a compost pile. There are some apple trees (maybe a peach tree). The house is out in the countryside. Maybe there's a barn.

I think that this changing dream reflects that I am growing older. I still love cities, but I don't go out most nights. These days, a good night is more likely a great walk with Shadeaux, an excellent home-cooked meal, & reading a good book. I do still enjoy city amenities, but if I could get into the city from somewhere further out - say, on the weekend to catch a show - I think I'd be happy with that.

Comments

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

You forgot the moat to help keep out the zombies. That's an important part of any house.

Also, knowing HPG, there's probably a lot of peach trees.

[krick.livejournal.com]

Welcome to being old. Feel free to enjoy my lawn.

[effrontery.livejournal.com]

Catching up on LJ. I love your house vision. I'm still a holdout for living in the city (even though I've at least migrated to South Philly and a rowhouse) but I still dream about country life.