Of house and home

Isn't home ownership grand?
(He says sarcastically...)

Recently my brother and I did some exploring. We looked at a couple of the attic spaces within the house that have probably been somewhat neglected. As we verified the attic spaces for their insulation coverage we were amazed at the amount of craftsmanship that the builders put into making a 1920's bungalow.

The attic pocket doors fit so snugly with their tiny retractable ball bearing locking mechanism. And the house frame, the structure itself, is still so solid, perhaps built of old school lumber from Northern Minnesota.

And recently we had the house exterior painted, it needed the paint so badly, to the point that we couldn't do it ourselves. And the man who painted mentioned how time consuming some of the detail was - and I'm sure it was, constructed with character and not of disposable means.

I have to admit that as of the past couple years I have been left wondering if home ownership is the most economic "way" for middle income families. Since the end of WWII the U.S. government has led us to believe so with its cheap loan programs and tax incentives.

Our homes are a source of pride for so many folks.  I relate directly - my parents bought their first house and then continued to upgrade in houses as the family grew and as we moved to different cities. Eventually my two brothers and I each had our own bedroom! And a basement rec room! Oh what great expectations!

Though this article wasn't completely surprising, it disturbed me:
Check it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/12/bofa-ceo-moynihan-some-pe_n_848312.html

I am not a big fan of hearing a corporate executive dismiss houses - or homes, which are considered an investment for so many middle income families. It's disturbing. Reminds me of hearing of the booksmart economist who strives for faster, cheaper, more efficient - with no understanding of the human cost. Or of the accomplished doctor who operates on a person as if they were just another number and not an actual being.

That is part of what makes this whole housing market bubble issue such a pain. Sometimes it feels like the fat cats are starving the middle of its pride. What would happen to neighborhoods if folks didn't take any pride in their home? What would happen to cities if neighborhoods no longer had pride - if they became run down? Surely, there are examples of this in many communities already. Were we set up to believe that houses were an important part of being American? If so, who would want one now? And especially a new one.

Home ownership means work and upkeep and when you put time and money into it, you are investing, or at least we thought so, or were led to believe so, and especially with an older home.

Craft, art - pride. House, home, family...

Unfortunately while in the attic area, we didn't find any hidden bundles of cash or map of our small urban yard, marked with an "x" offering location of buried treasure or loot of some sort.