We've been house-hunting for a few months now, but nothing has really hit the mark with either of us. Up to this point, we've mainly looked in a few of the neighborhoods right around where we live now, which would be described as one of the suburbs of
Sa.int L.
ouis. But we haven't found anything and have been frustrated with the houses in our price range. Everything is small - small closets, small kitchen, small bedrooms, small baths, and very few of the last two. Many of the houses are 3 bedrooms and 1.5 or maybe 2 baths. Then in addition to small, you get an old kitchen, old baths, no garage, and a generally not so great house. But you're living in a great neighborhood - very family friendly - with great schools, a rec center, pool, cute downtown area - and lots of VERY nice houses right next to the not-so-great houses - it just happens that the very nice houses are about 3+ times out of our price range. If only we could afford one of those houses.
But we can't. So we started looking in the city. Just saying that makes me get a little queasy feeling in my stomach. I don't do city. I'm a suburb girl - I grew up in the suburbs of Dallas and I don't know
anything else. The city makes me nervous - I feel like I'd be afraid to go out after dark or take J for a walk. And the houses are close together, with more traffic and the schools stink. But Husband grew up in the city and in the same way I consider myself a suburb person, he considers himself a city guy. He loves it - loves the little neighborhood bars and
restaurants and stores, loves the ease of getting downtown, loves the original woodwork and trim and doors and layout of the homes, and he wants to move there. So I've finally given in and agreed to look at houses there.
And OH.MY.GOODNESS.
The houses in OUR price range (which isn't much, folks) are unbelievable. And they have UPDATED KITCHENS. Which, if you aren't currently house-hunting and not up to speed on the lingo, could mean many things. For instance, some people call something "updated" if they painted within the last ten years. Or actually mopped the floors. But these houses in the city? THESE ARE REAL UPDATED KITCHENS. With stainless steel
appliances, granite
counter tops, center islands, and room to walk around. And the baths? Huge. Master bath with walk-in showers and separate whirlpool
tubs and double vanity. Huge bedrooms. Modern,
pott.
ery barn paint colors. Huge walk-in closets with build-in organizers. And all this with the
unbelievable craftsmanship of these late 1800s homes - solid wood staircases with intricately carved designs and built-in benches, huge arched ceilings with
beautiful trim and molding, solid wood pocket doors, stain glass windows, and wood floors with inlaid designs. Many of the homes also have a third floor room, which would make a great playroom or office space. And this is in addition to four bedrooms and 2.5 baths!
And there are lots of families moving in to these neighborhoods because all these houses are being rehabbed. And although the public schools stink, there is a great parochial school nearby, which is always an option for us. So I'm trying to figure out if I really will be happy living there or if it is just too different than how I see myself. And if the suburbs mean that much to me, and the city that much to Husband, then is he really unhappy living here? Is it
ridiculous that I think of myself as a suburb person and feel odd about living in the city?
I think I might be more of a updated kitchen/bath/big bedrooms/big closet kind of girl and maybe it doesn't/shouldn't matter where I find it.
Labels: house
One of Your Favorite Places
A place you would like to visit
Your college major (I think this is an odd photo for Psychology)
Favorite holiday
A bad habit
Age at next birthday
Favorite food
Middle name (and no, it's not Hosanna in spite of what the picture says)
Favorite color
Where you live 
