Our home is still sitting on the market, patiently awaiting a buyer. We’re feeling pretty relaxed about it all (the subzero temperatures do that to us). Apart from an occasional freak out (by me) that someone could call at any minute to see our not-so-tidy house, we’re not thinking about it too much.
Having our house listed, though, does pose the question of where we will move if/when it sells. Dan loves the search and often calls me to his computer to check out a potential home. He checks often, as much for the love of the hunt as anything. His searches are mostly objective, full of optimism (“that price is negotiable”) and potential (“taking out a wall is a piece of cake”).
I on the other hand am more subjective about the whole process. More subjective and Dan might venture to add, kind of a buzz-kill. I’m all full of hope and really do believe the right place is out there for us but I have a hard time looking at houses that just don’t feel right. Yep, I’m one of those people.
But we look. We compare. We wonder and hope. We talk about compromise and must-haves (and I change my mind on that list every week). We’ve talked a lot about how much space we want. We don’t want much, we just want it done well (with just one more toilet)…Ha, right?! We reference this book and try to keep her ideas (which are very much our own) in mind.
And if we forget what we’re looking for, all we need to do is look around and see that this is how we mostly spend our days.
Together. Squeezed into this place that many consider too small.
Learning, playing, working, living together.
Crying, laughing, fighting, forgiving together.
And loving it.
(Yep, I nudged that knitting into the photo. She needed a presence there.)
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I’m obsessed with smaller spaces. Maybe it’s because I live in a small home. Or that you can literally transfer an Ikea model room to your floor plan without much thought. 🙂
wishing you the perfect buyer!
and the perfect location to lodge within.
Heehee, there is a LOT of Ikea furniture in this space.
You and your husband make the perfect team for house hunting. Sounds very balanced. I hope your house sells soon. We have bought/sold four houses in our marriage and I love to buy a house. Not too fond of selling one 🙂
Yep, the selling process isn’t the most fun… 🙂
i know many families (us included) living in spaces that others might consider “too small”. it’s really all about what you do with it… that said, we are also planning on getting a bit more space, and especially that longed for garden. in our family it is also my husband who loves checking internet sites with house offers 🙂
Oh yes, the outdoor space is really what we’re longing for!
Rachel, I hope you find what you are looking for very soon. It sounds like you and your husband are having a great time and enjoying the process.
I am all for having a smaller home especially as I now only have two children at home. Even with a home that has five bedrooms, when all of my children were home, we always seemed to gather in one room so we could be together. Now I spend so much of my time here alone I think I would love a one room cabin!
I think it’s a sign of a happy family when everyone ends up underfoot in the same room! It’s good to be reminded that it won’t be forever – and to cherish it all the more. 🙂
I totally understand.
There were nine people in my immediate family (seven children, two parents). I lived in a Cape style house that originally had two bedrooms. What would be considered the “den” and “dining room” were converted into bedrooms as mom and dad had more kids. Oh and we had just ONE bathroom for all those people.
But, it never seemed that small. I think it’s like others have said…it’s what you do with that space.
I wish you all the luck in the world in finding the perfect home for your family. 🙂
Making it work is sort of a fun process, too. And it gives us a good reason not to be pack rats!
We are in the same situation you are in. Our house in on the market. My husband works from home on the computer and we spend our days looking much like yours.
It is nice to know we aren’t alone. Hope your buying/selling goes smoothly!
We sold our house 3 yrs ago, and we now rent. Our area is really not good for home buying as prices keep plummeting. So right now we shop and dream. We have been trying out homes thru rentals to really determine what we need and how we use a space. I keep a running list of our wants and it changes. We agree less house planned wisely is so much more. Good luck.
That’s a smart way to go about that. As we’ve looked at different houses I’ve realized what my priorities really are – funny how is changes so much. I’ve realized the outdoor space is really top on my list.
This rental really showed us how much we use and need outdoor space. It is funny how the priorities shift.
we’re the same. small house, big family, desperately in need of another toilet and a bigger pantry 😉 that said, we look and dream and discuss but i don’t need much more space, just a well thought out space. i like us all together and like the closeness it encourages between siblings too.
I think the small space is such a good thing. Dan loves the idea of designing our own space but I get a little nervous about that…It sure would help us get around all those wasted hall spaces and dining rooms!
I always marvel over hallways and dining or formal living rooms. Why have space that isn’t usable?
Are you lucky enough to have hubby working from home Rachel? We would love that, Greg is so far away during the day. I’m crossing my fingers that you find that dream spot and your house sells easily. Ya know, Bath Maine is a lovely area:)
I was NOT a fan of having our house on the market. We were averaging over 10 showings a week for ten months until it sold. Im super impressed that you have 6 little ones to care for while trying to do it. 2 thumbs up for you!! Good Luck!
Selling and buying is sooooo stressful a time. When we moved here, we were looking at houses mainly from a computer screen- long distance! (750 miles away). We knew nothing about the area, let alone the state. We knew no one save a couple that lived in another area of the state (2 hours away). I’d search daily for houses, the area, the distances between work and church and grocery stores, etc. I remember the computer game my children used to like to play (sitting next to me on our 2nd computer) and its music. I’ve put a ban on that game now. Anytime I hear that music, it brings back that bad stressful time. (they’ve outgrown the game, thankfully! 🙂 )
Anyway… (encouraging, aren’t I?) Sorry about that.
In your case, you’re looking for a home, not a major move. I’ll pray that you can find just the right thing and done so in a peaceful way. Knowing that God will place you where he wants you to be can certainly alleviate any fears and worries.
I understand how you feel. I’d be afraid of a house large enough that we wouldn’t feel *together*. I would take more closets though in a heart beat.
I tend to go for bigger yards than bigger houses-and trees!
Best of luck with your house. House selling/buying is so stressful but so fun at the same time. I hope you find your dream home with all the features you desire. Jacinta
a buzz kill..lol love you! Well, I hope you find the perfect home for you and your sweet, sweet family. Looks like you are enjoying the moment….LOVE THAT!!!
Oh those pictures make me so happy! Woot woot for school time! And I love those bright pants that A’s wearing!
I love the pictures of everyone milling around. It gives me hope- well, there’s just three of us at the moment, but we are looking to simplify and get a smaller space for us (and a more affordable one), and it feels so good to think about what we really need.
It’s not always a fun process, but it’s best to squeeze the fun out of it when you can. I quite like the dreaming and thinking. Good luck to you and your family!
Wow. I can’t tell you how much I needed to read this this morning. We are in an apartment and lately it has seemed that we have reached it’s expiration date in more ways than one. Your pic of everyone crammed (not unhappily!) into one small space is so familiar to me. We desire something more than where we are now, but where!? My husband and I are much like you and yours. He’s excited, invigorated by this idea of finding a home, moving, and settling in. I am filled with trepidation and move a lot more slowly about things. That said, I am itching to get out of the place we are in, so it’s a manic up and down these days of “We have to move! NOW!” and “We are never going to find the right place in a reasonable amount of time, so why even try!” Good luck in your search, I am hoping against hope for the very right place for both of us!
You and your husband sound a lot like myself and my husband when we were first house hunting, Rachel! Good luck with your search — the right house for you all will come along when you least expect it (and a buyer for your current home, too!).
Thanks for this post….thanks for sharing! I hope/pray that your home sells and you will find just the right place/amount of space for your crew. We struggle with this all the time – the thought of selling our house, but then where we would go? (The path of least resistance has kept us right here, however 🙂
Love this post.
Thanks for sharing your journey.
How exciting that you have put your house on the market! Just look how much has been going on in your corner of the woods that I’ve been missing out on 🙂
Exciting, although anti-climactic. We are hoping that it may end up taking us closer to your corner of the woods, though!