Are You Comfortable?

Published on July 8, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging

This is nothing more than the expanding of a passing thought.

I am home now. What is "home" for many people? There are people who live in grand estate mansions and people who live in a cardboard box in some alley. Is one really more of a home than another for the person(s) who live there? If so, how?

I have lived in a single room house without plumbing and used an outhouse and got my water from a well. I have lived in a very nice mutli-story house that was built before the Cival War. I have built my own house, paid to have a house built, and purchased prebuilt homes. All of these were "home" for me. There was a time when I lived in a tent for several months. It was "home".

I currently live in a truck that not only provides me a lving but is also my home. I have a small 22ft travel trailer here in Florida that I call "home" and to whence I go to take a few days out of the truck. But, as I really spend most of my time in the truck, I suppose that's really "home".

Is one type of home inherently better than another? Is the grand estate better than the travel trailer? It's so subjective. One question that comes to mind is "just how much room does a person need?" Does a small family of four or five really need a huge house with 5 more rooms than there are people living there? Maybe, I suppose it depends on the people and how much they like each other.

At one time our ancestors lived in very small homes compared to what many have today and they often had much larger families. Do we feel sorry for those people or were they happy and comfortable there? Are we today truly happy and comfortable in our ever larger homes? Does it make any difference at all?

Does a larger home automatically mean more comfort or a better lifestyle? I don't know. I tend to think not as I am happy in my little travel trailer or in my truck. I have owned very large homes, and none at all. I don't think happiness or comfort has anything to do with it. I can remember when I was hitching around the country being very comfortable in my small tent or under a bridge waiting out a storm. Comfort is very relative.

I admit that I like being comfortable. I like dressing well. When I am on the road I wear clothing appropriate to my work, when hiking I sleep on the ground and wear rugged clothing, but when I'm home I wear much nicer clothing. It's not unusual for me to go out wearing an expensive suit or a more casual suit of clothes from a fine men's store. To me that's comfort. But I still live in a small travel trailer or in a truck. For me at least, comfort isn't about how much space I have. Geez, it's just more to clean.

For me comfort is being able to go where I want, when I want, and being able to buy the things I like and need, not in having a huge house that sucks all of my money out of my wallet preventing me from doing those other things.

What do you think?

Comments

Dr Guy

on Jul 08, 2006

I think you just pissed off the 'old Richmond' set!

But Home is as much space as you need. Right now, with family (even if they do not live here), I need a lot. That has not always been the case. And in a few years. we will probably sell and buy smaller. Less Cleaning.

MasonM

on Jul 08, 2006

#1 by Dr. Guy
Sat, July 08, 2006 7:00 PM

[Dr. Guy]

I think you just pissed off the 'old Richmond' set!

Ah, my work is done!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking anyone with a large home, I've had my share, just throwing out some musings.

Dr Guy

on Jul 08, 2006

Ah, my work is done!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking anyone with a large home, I've had my share, just throwing out some musings.

Your First statement is good. And the other not necessary. Home is what makes us comfortable. Whether 3000 sq ft, or 1000. WHen my kids are on their own, I am buying down! I dont like cleaning large spaces.

MasonM

on Jul 08, 2006

Home is what makes us comfortable.

The definitive statement.

AngelaMarie88

on Jul 08, 2006

I love this topic. It reminds me of an article I heard on NPR recently: Link

Trudygolightly

on Jul 08, 2006

If one is honest in answering, I think the answer is very revealing about one's life.

I've been happy, like you, when I lived on a farm with an outhouse and a hand pump. I've been miserable while living in a beautiful large 2 story house with a full basement and all one could ask for.

Am I comfortable now, well.....yes and no both. There truly isn't enough space in this 700 sq. foot apt, not with both of us having our own dishes, pots, pans, just too much stuff and not enough room. On the other side of the coin, my kid's easy to live with, has a great sense of humor and is one person that truly gives a hoot how I"m feeling and if I"m happy. I think the latter is what really matters in life. I'll just have to finish packing up the things of mine that we don't need 2 sets of, then we should be "good to go" ***VBS**

MasonM

on Jul 08, 2006

#5 by AngelaMarie88
Sat, July 08, 2006 9:26 PM

Thanks

MasonM

on Jul 08, 2006

#6 by Trudygolightly
Sat, July 08, 2006 10:57 PM

[Trudygolightly]

If one is honest in answering, I think the answer is very revealing about one's life.

I've been happy, like you, when I lived on a farm with an outhouse and a hand pump. I've been miserable while living in a beautiful large 2 story house with a full basement and all one could ask for.

Am I comfortable now, well.....yes and no both. There truly isn't enough space in this 700 sq. foot apt, not with both of us having our own dishes, pots, pans, just too much stuff and not enough room. On the other side of the coin, my kid's easy to live with, has a great sense of humor and is one person that truly gives a hoot how I"m feeling and if I"m happy. I think the latter is what really matters in life.

Great asnwer!

dynamaso

on Jul 10, 2006

If I'm comfortable, I'm happy. I don't need a great deal of space and my wife and I sometimes wonder why people buy homes for their 2 adults/2 children families that are lounge, dining, kitchen, family, study, 3 bathrooms and 5 bedrooms large. All we think about is how much work has to be done to maintain a large home such as this. I'd far rather spend my time with my family than cleaning up my home.

MasonM

on Jul 10, 2006

#9 by dynamaso
Mon, July 10, 2006 01:13 AM

[dynamaso]
If I'm comfortable, I'm happy. I don't need a great deal of space and my wife and I sometimes wonder why people buy homes for their 2 adults/2 children families that are lounge, dining, kitchen, family, study, 3 bathrooms and 5 bedrooms large. All we think about is how much work has to be done to maintain a large home such as this. I'd far rather spend my time with my family than cleaning up my home.

Thanks. I think for some it's a status thing. Big house equates with success. I think that's why far too many people buy homes they really can't afford or are far larger than they really need.

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