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Enough-ism

Saturday, April 3, 2010

I was recently at a playgroup and the moms started talking about how they want to upgrade to larger homes.

Apparently, they were all in agreement that they NEED larger homes.

Which I thought was pretty ridiculous since they all have pretty large homes and at most three kids. We're talking multiple level homes with at least 4 bedrooms here.

(Of course I bit my tongue, hence the blog name. I'm a bit desperate for adult conversation, even ridiculous conversation and wanted to get invited back to playgroup.)

I live in the smallest house in the neighborhood. And I'll freely admit that the most attractive thing about my house is the fact that we can afford the mortgage.

But even putting aside the money factor, I honestly don't want to own a larger home.

A bigger house just means more space to fill with crap and more stuff to clean.

And we really have enough crap already.

I also think there is something cozy about a snug little house.

The most ironic part of the whole conversation was that the topic jumped immediately from wanting huge houses to complaining about the long hours their husbands worked.

Nobody else seemed to draw any connection between the two.

19 comments:

Anonymous April 3, 2010 at 6:35 PM  

That's America for you, huh? Supersize everything. I'm with you on snug, cozy, and affordable ... and husbands and wives who work so that they can enjoy the better things, like their children.

Jeanie April 3, 2010 at 6:59 PM  

It sounds like you are pretty wise....sounds like you listen and think. I think I was slow to learn a lot that you already know.

dusty earth mother April 3, 2010 at 8:01 PM  

Very funny! And I love that they didn't make the connection between the big house and the long hours. Isn't that just like a rich wife? :-)

Thanks for the visit, Scarlett!

Green-Eyed Momster April 3, 2010 at 8:09 PM  

Yikes! We NEED a larger home. There are 6 of us, a turtle, fish, 4 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits in a 1,200 sq. ft. double wide.
The larger the home the higher the mortgage. I wonder if those ladies want to be in a larger home with their children while their husbands have to work longer hours to pay for it. Honestly, I'd rather have my husband at home with me even in our small house.

Hugs!!

betty April 3, 2010 at 8:41 PM  

wise woman you are to be content with the house size you have for a variety of reasons, the most important is you can afford the mortgage :)

where we live there are huge houses we call "McMansions", 3400-4000 square feet, 5 bedrooms, huge family rooms, etc, etc. etc. Hubby and me like to go and visit some of them on open houses and we are just amazed at how much space is in there. We think two things "its too big of a house for just us (kids grown)" and "who wants to be a slave to the house keeping it clean?" Sadly, the majority of the houses we visit are bank repossessions.

We live in a little under 1200 square feet, single level. It takes me just over an hour to clean it a week. I love it :)

maybe those women might see the connection some day, one would hope

I hope you have an enjoyable day tomorrow :)

betty

LadyFi April 3, 2010 at 10:48 PM  

It's all too easy to get caught up in the trap of consumerism... Funny thing is even if we get more and more stuff, it still doesn't make us any happier...

sheila April 4, 2010 at 4:27 AM  

Love the irony! lol. We're in a smallish house. A ranch. I'm thinking the same as you...bigger house..more crap...higher payments...higher heating bills....yadda yadda.

I'm happy where I am too.

T Rex Mom April 4, 2010 at 2:11 PM  

This is so real - I hear ladies complain about the long hours their hubby's work. I sometimes do, but the it's followed by - "that's alright because he has a job and we have food".

And indeed, a bigger house is just more to clean. Unless you're fortunate to be one of those at-home moms with a live in nanny/housekeeper.

Thanks for stopping by T Rex Tales.

Rebecca April 4, 2010 at 5:42 PM  

Ha! Every time I see a beautiful house that I would love to live in, I always mention how sucky it would be to clean it! I'll stick with what I have for now (because I can barely handle cleaning that)! Amazing that people just want more and more and more...be content, people!

countryfriedmama April 4, 2010 at 6:32 PM  

It's a sickness. I live in a neighborhood of ranch-style, post-war homes that are being rapidly torn down to make room for enormous homes that barely fit on their lots. Many of these have faux oil-burning lamps above the the three-car garages and/or stone lions guarding the entrances to the driveways. I would be embarrassed by that, so I guess it's a good thing I will likely never have one.

Kelly April 5, 2010 at 9:35 AM  

Ugh... I totally agree with you. I would never want a huge house. Too much work.

Jeanne Estridge April 5, 2010 at 9:44 AM  

Not only bigger payments, but you generally start over with a brand new 30-year mortgage, which means you'll be working those long hours forever.

Green-Eyed Momster April 5, 2010 at 8:48 PM  

I have an award for you!

Hugs!!

Patty - Why Not Start Now? April 5, 2010 at 10:10 PM  

Couldn't agree more, Scarlett. I recently read a survey where the majority of respondents said a bigger house and newer car would make them happier. So lots of people have bought into the notion that newer/bigger/better is the route to happiness. But every study says it just ain't so.

Anonymous April 7, 2010 at 4:08 AM  

Might have been talk generated by their need to compete with each other. Materialism and stuff.

Claudya Martinez April 7, 2010 at 6:08 PM  

I'm with you. Sometimes enough is enough. Some people live in tiny spaces and could benefit from more space, but sometimes people want more just because they are used to always wanting more. In the end it's all just stuff and what really matters are the people.

Curiosity April 8, 2010 at 2:44 PM  

Hi! ...Came by via a comment elsewhere, and had to say that I completely agree. Sometimes it does feel like I would love to have a this or that, but often I pause to think about it and am boggled by how much I do have.

And I would MUCH rather trade more space or more items for more time with my husband. No contest.

Jenners April 9, 2010 at 7:41 PM  

It is silly isn't it?

justmakingourway April 11, 2010 at 6:03 AM  

If we could sell our house I would totally downsize. I'd rather have a smaller house with a nice porch all the way around and a big yard then some monstrosity. Especially with the way I clean!

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