thinking about an apartment.....

Home ownership - the American Dream. It's what most people in this country strive to achieve. But how good did we have it in an apartment and we just didn't know it?

The bride and I were outside the other night enjoying a rare comfortable Middle Tennessee summer evening. Over the past 12 months we've had to: replace the upstairs air unit; replace the downstairs carpeting; replace all of our windows; have the roof repaired (new one installed just 2 years ago, but that company is no longer in business); repair the downstairs air unit; and replace 75% of the blinds in the house. I looked at the bride and said, "Wouldn't it just be easier and cheaper to move into an apartment?" We laughed because we'd never actually do it, but there's some logic there.

Think about it. When you live in an apartment, you don't have to replace or repair anything. It's taken care of by the apartment complex company. Air conditioning goes out? Call the super and he'll have it fixed. Roof leak? Call the super. And you'll never live anywhere that's less expensive. Oh, sure, your house payment may be the same or less than your rent, but then you've got all the other things - taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs. And you no longer have the super - you have to hire a handyman, or call a plumber or an electrician. And it almost always happens all at once.....

As tempting as it is to move into an apartment, I don't think we'll be going anywhere soon. We like our house, our neighborhood, our neighbors (well, most of them), and it's convenient to everything we need. But if anyone who reads this lives in an apartment and can't wait to get into a house, just make sure you're ready for it. And remember, the Douglases had it made in New York City in their penthouse apartment; then Oliver just had to be a farmer and move them to Hooterville. Lisa instantly became a homeowner, and she was never the same again.....