Our (Almost) Dream Home
Yesterday, with sunny skies and a temperature firmly planted in the 90’s, we were jonesing for a pool. Not having any luck “borrowing” a place to swim from a friend, we decided to run into town to do the next best thing… eat.
On the way to the restaurant, I pointed out a delicious-looking pool behind a very attractive new home. Alan proceeded to show me the “For Sale” sign prominently displayed in the front yard. After realizing that the house wasn’t occupied, we stopped and took a stroll around the yard, peering in windows, checking out the crawl space, and lusting after the turquoise waters that beckoned from the backyard.
Needless to say, we fell in love.
The house is just about perfect in every way. Nothing fancy, just a really nice home with three bedrooms, two baths, an open floor plan, and a jacuzzi tub in the master bath. The outside is beautiful with a large front porch, and there’s a set of glass doors that look out on the pool from the living area. It was easy to imagine that this could be a place we would enjoy living. I spent the remainder of the afternoon daydreaming about entertaining our friends with pool parties and how much fun I’d have whipping the landscaping into shape.
Even with all the fantasizing about the property, I became somewhat depressed in the knowledge that no matter how much I loved it, there was a very small chance that we would ever make it ours. The reason – there is a house behind it (see pic). That might not sound so bad, but the front of that house faces the backyard of the house that we like. I have no idea why anyone would have built the houses like that, and even though there is a tall privacy fence between the two houses, it just feels strange.
So, after talking it over, we realized that no matter how much we loved the house, the pool, and the location, it simply wasn’t going to work. Instead, we’ll carry on with our plans of getting Alan through school and into a better job, and then we’ll either build the house we want or find one that doesn’t have someone practically living in the backyard.
And it better have a jacuzzi tub and a swimming pool.
Dream houses aside, I have pool envy too, so I just want to recommend the pool I bought at K-Mart. The maintenance is very low and if you’re not looking to have big pool parties or swim laps every day, it’s perfect for cooling off. I mentioned it in my blog and there’s a photo of it at the bottom of the post. (I’m not promoting my post, I’m just sayin’ that for $49 this pool is a great way to cool off in this heat.) :)
http://whatimdoingrightnow.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/the-land-of-1000-naps/
The weather was HOT, the house was empty, and the pool was full–did you guys hop the fence and go for a dip? :)
JimT
@ Wendy: That’s a great idea! I don’t think I have a shady location to put one though, and I’m sure it would turn into a sauna.
@ JimT: It was very tempting, but the next door neighbor was outside mowing and I was afraid we might be tattled on. :)
Brian,
Oh, buddy, what a near miss. If I lived in the country (which I don’t anymore), I’d rally up a landscape crew and plant you a few trees in the backyard. Heck, we could plant you a whole forest with fruit-bearing trees and all (they do grow where you live, right?)
Anyway, I hope y’all’s dream house shows up soon—hot tub, pool, the whole kit and kaboodle.
W.H.
That house is gorgeous.
I too have pool envy. When I was working and had to go to a local country club I had to hold myself back from jumpin’ in.
When you get that dream house with the pool and hot tub I’ll probably wear out my welocme! LOL.
I am SO with you on the hot tub! It’s a mandatory for our next place, which sadly won’t be for several years. Ah well. We like where we’re at…maybe we’ll just chip for the jacuzzi there, instead.
@ Wei-Hsien Wan: I figured a screen of trees would be just the thing to fix the privacy issue. And, yes, we can grow fruit trees here! :)
@ Alyson: You would be more than welcome anytime!
@ Caroline: I had just decided that it would make more sense (and be more economical) to stay put and install a pool here, but then my dad informed me that he was putting in a pool at his house. Turns out we’ll have three pools within 5 miles that we can use, so we don’t really need one. That doesn’t keep me from wanting one though!
The house is beautiful but I think you’re right. You would be better off to just utilize the pools you have access to. The best part of that is you don’t have the expense of the pool or have to maintain it. Best possible solution I think.
The next best thing is friends with pool and jacuzzi – especially ones on the West coast, 45 minutes from Wine Country :)
Be well.
@ Chris: I know, especially considering how much I hear people complain about keeping a pool cleaned and full of chemicals.
@ Sideon: Sounds like a wonderful life! :)
That’s a beautiful house. You guys could have a sexy pool guy and that would solve the maintenance issue, but would certainly create other issues.
I’m looking at the map and can’t figure it out. Can you explain it a little?
@ fightingwindmills: The house we like is right in the center of the picture with a curving paved driveway. It has a detached garage and pool house, and the pool appears as a dark rectangle right behind the house.
The “problem” house is directly behind that, almost in the shadow of a large tree. Their gravel driveway goes right beside the paved one.
The two houses actually appear to be further apart in this Google image than they do in real life.