When I reached a certain age (as in, I don’t remember what age, so I’m being vague), I was allowed to sit with my friends during church. I’d like to say my friends and I spent that Sunday morning hour learning and worshiping. But, while we did some of that, I also have very clear memories of playing MASH.
Over and over and over.
Did you play that? It was a game of “chance,” and predicted who you’d marry, what kind of car you’d drive, what job you’d have and what kind of house you’d live in. While you got to choose the husband, car and job options, the housing choices were built in.
MASH stood for Mansion, Apartment, Shack and House.
In theory it was okay if you landed on shack if you also “got” your favorite guy, car or job. (But let’s be honest. It was mostly about the guy.) I suppose IN THEORY that’s still true. I’d much rather live in a shack with Mark than in a mansion with any of the boys I listed as possible husbands in middle school.
Still, settling down in a shack with my honey (and Porsche, because, well, I didn’t know a lot of cars back then) isn’t exactly my idea of a dream come true. My dream house:
- Has a big porch
- And a big yard
- That never needs to be mowed
- It also has a finished basement
- With a bedroom and bathroom
- (For Mark when he’s sleeping during the day, thanks to working nights)
- (And for guests when we can finally have guests spend the night again)
- It has a beautiful kitchen
- That somehow both Mark and I think is beautiful
- (We have different kitchen tastes)
- And a formal dining room
- Plus an eat-in kitchen
- And two living spaces, perfect for entertaining
- And did I mention it comes with a maid?
- (I’m not talking about one of those built-in vacuum systems.)
- (I really mean a maid. To clean my house. So I don’t have to.)
It’s highly likely I’ll never find – or afford – such a house. I mean, I might as well imagine myself living in Cinderella’s castle! And though I don’t adore the house I live in – and have lived in for a decade . . . and am trying to sell – it has some good points.
- It’s small enough that cleaning doesn’t take long.
- When the dryer and the attic fan are on, my house smells like clean laundry.
- My new hardwood floors? Are GORGEOUS.
- The house is small, so utilities don’t cost an arm and a leg.
- In fact, I never feel bad about flipping on the heat or a/c. {Score!}
- Our backyard is big and wooded and lovely.
- (Don’t remind me about the swamp and mosquitoes. I’m on a roll here.)
- We’ve painted the walls great colors.
- One bathroom means one toilet to clean. Boom!
Now it’s your turn.
What’s your dream house look like?
And what makes your current home great?
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{Photo by Horia Varlan}
Aw, man, I wish I would have read your blog post today before I wrote mine. Haha! I also wrote about the M.A.S.H. game. I absolutely loved your story, and really loved your list of good points about your house. I should try to come up with the positives about my tiny house with siding that is starting to show it’s years. :) Thank you for sharing this!
Great minds clearly think alike, Chandra! And yes, you’ll be surprised how refreshing it is to linger on thoughts of the GOOD parts of your home! (I know I was!)
love this and just wrote about it last week! I didn’t list my dream qualities, though, but this is definitely the closes we’ve come to it (though still quite a distance away! ha!). Dream-wise though, I want an old farmhouse in the city that I magically renovate for free so it looks and acts like new. Not too hard, right?
Karen, I always think of you and Matt when I drive by the Valentine neighborhood. :) I’ve said many times that Mark and I have house dreams that almost-but-not-quite match. He’d love to rehab an old Craftsman style house…I’d love to buy an already rehabbed Craftsman style house that has all the charm of the old and none of the problems. Somehow I don’t think either of those dreams are coming true anytime soon! Still, a home – not a house – is something to celebrate, like you wrote about in your post!
aw, MAN, we still love that neighbourhood. homes here just don’t compare…
Just stumbled upon your series today and I love it!
I currently live in my dream house. Not because it is perfect (because the one full bathroom for the 6 people in my family is not a dream! :) ). It is because I have learned the valuable lesson of being content in all situations. Prior to living in our current home, we lived in a new home that was built according to our preferences. And I loved that house- except for the fact that it was used as a way to control us (my husband was an associate pastor and the house was a parsonage). I learned through that process that it isn’t the house that makes a living situation wonderful- it is who is in it and how we use that space for God’s glory!
So, thank you for this topic, because it is a sweet reminder to me to truly be thankful for this gift that we have been given- living in a parsonage while serving at a church where people truly love us and truly love Jesus. It makes all the difference in the world!
Hi Becky, I’m glad you stumbled over here! :) And thank you for sharing your experience – I can see how you’ve learned a hard lesson, and I appreciate your willingness to share it with us. I wrote many years ago about how my husband is my home…and that’s still true today, no matter how annoyed we get with our old, tiny house!
In art class, when I was in 5th or 6th grade, we actually had this as an assignment. We made floor plans and then drew a picture of the front of the house. I, of course, drew a pretty impressive mansion. I think I was inspired by Flowers in the Attic or some other book that took place in a mansion. It is safe to say a mansion is not in my future and I’m OK with that- just imagine the electric bills!
Well, if Flowers in the Attic only influenced you to dream of mansions, I’d say you got off pretty easy. ;) And yes, I’m super thankful for lower utilities in my non-mansion!!
Well, you’re never to old to learn, nor to play. I’ve never heard of MASH, so it’ll be fun to do a little dreaming.
I wonder if this game ever made it to Canada?
Marianna, I have no idea where the game originated or how far it reached. But I did find a little info on Wikipedia for you! :) Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MASH_%28game%29
Isn’t that the truth!
My dream house is 1000 square feet or less (my first home was 660 square feet) with a garage and a wrap-around screened-in porch, dropped right in the middle of at least an acre. No CCRs, no HOA.
Sounds lovely!!
My dream house has more than me and my cat in it. I’m not picky! ;) (Right now. I’m sure I would be if I actually had that, because there’s always something…) My current place is nice because I don’t have to mow or shovel. Granted, I do pay plenty for that…
Not having to mow or shovel is a big one. (And there is the fact that your cat is The Best Cat EVER, too!) :)