The city view from our bedroom will soon be partially obscured by the leaves of a 150 year-old Elm in our front yard. I love watching and listening to the birds in that tree as much, if not more than, the views of the city.
Last Friday, we met with a realtor to discuss finding a new, more accessible home. Bertrand is only getting bigger and the cost to rehabilitate our current home for his (and our backs') benefit is substantial. Before we make a major and costly decision, we're thoroughly evaluating all the options from various ways of fixing our current home to moving.
There are many factors to consider. The ones that we and perhaps most people tend to focus on are the ones which are easily quantified, such as the cost of a commute (cost of a new car, hours in a car, maintenance, gas, parking passes, etc.). Then there are related variables (opportunity costs) such as "extra time spent away from family". How do you value that?
Or how about being only 3 minutes away from the main children's hospital? ...especially when you have a child like Bertrand? In even ONE emergency situation, how much would that be worth?
How do you value the joy of your very first home? Your children's first home? Your memories? Your dreams?
Tonight, as I looked down at the sparkling city and spied swollen leaf buds on the Elm, my suspicion was that these intangibles are undervalued.
"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."
Good luck in figuring it out. Never underestimate the costs of time away from the family or feelings of love and safety in a neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI think love for a home can be like love for a child - when you have the first one and the second one is coming you think "How can I ever love another child as much as I love this one?" and then when the next one comes, you find that love is not finite but can expand beyond anything the human mind can imagine. I hope if you decide to move, you will be able to love a new home as much as you love this one.
Thanks, Jennifer. :) I think we're lucky that the lack of accessible homes, increasing real estate prices, and our ridiculously low mortgage rate on this house make the financial decision line up with our heart's desire to stay. :) Warm regards!
DeleteSigh. . .
ReplyDeleteA home is just walls, really, and there will be memories made wherever you make "home." Doesn't make the heartache any less though, I know. Oh boy do I know. xoxo
Very true. Sending hugs your way!
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