When I was a kid in Florida, we did a lot of off-roading. Dirt bikes, dune Buggies and the like. Not great for the environment but great for stories of youth gone by. It has little to do with this other than it built a platform for many of my colloquialisms. Normally we had to get where we were going on surface streets. Boring but a means to an end. Then, we would go “off-road”. So, if I go a little off topic, I’ll say I’m “2 wheels in the grass”. If I’m going way off topic I’ll say I’ve “gone 4 wheelin’.” For this exercise, I’m 2 wheels in the grass. At least about this topic. Not a hard link to my other posts but I think an important aside.
Please keep in mind that this is an opinion from my observations over 5 or 6 decades. It’s been a minute. Even a blind squirrel can find an acorn, right? Growing up my dad did everything under the premise that “one day this will all be yours”. He felt he was building something that would carry over to his children and give them a leg up on life. The flaw in his thinking was assuming that we saw what he saw. He was very successful at building businesses. The guy just had a knack. The problem was that his businesses were very diverse and exposed us to a lot of different way to earn a living. He wanted us to see the business. In my case, I saw the thing the business did. Drove him nuts. I took a real interest in building and design. Things he was great at but moved past for other pursuits. The problem was that I didn’t move past them. He wanted me to take over “the empire”. Not so much an empire but we referred to it that way because again, it drove him nuts. Fathers and sons, who knew? Anyhow, he desperately wanted me to be a lawyer. I got queasy just thinking about it. So, when I went into architecture and building, he said, “Son, I support you in anything you choose. You’ll starve to death but, I support you.” He may have been right. I chose a tough gig. I’d probably have been a pretty good lawyer. Miserable but more successful. However, I chose the path that brought me joy in things of permanence. Buildings and houses are tangible and feed whatever it is I need to feel accomplished. So, we met in the middle and I designed buildings for his ventures while I built my life in construction. He passed unexpectedly at 69, sitting at his desk, doing what he loved. However, the businesses were very much a product of his presence. When he passed, they were like ships without rudders. Although Mom was no business slouch, she was devastated. Except for the buildings. Not many but enough to kill the debt and ease her into retirement. Ya’ see? Permanence. Houses offer a different kind of security in their permanence.
Hopefully you can see I’m getting back on the road here. Maybe not. By world standards, America is just a kid. For better or worse, we have been on a path of growth and expansion since our inception. Newer is better and older is approaching obsolete. Not necessarily a good thing. The rest of the world seems to find stability in its physical history, buildings. When you think of Rome you may envision the Colosseum or Greece, the Parthenon. Families abroad tend to hand down generational wealth. Fruits of the family’s labor. More often this isn’t a business or bank account but rather houses, Flats, farms, etc. It seems we started out that way but have drifted away from the basics. During my lifetime I have watched us move toward a bulldoze and start over modus. Our economy wants to lead us to use buildings as a means to profit with grand promise. We envision our “permanence” in bank accounts. Yet, at their core, buildings are meant to house us, the people we love or a thing we do to live and prosper. A shift in the economy can snuff a bank account in a heartbeat. But generally, a house has to be intentionally demolished or neglected to its demise.
Over the past 20 years (or more) we appear to be coming full circle in our economic reality. A house is more than an investment. It is not just an asset. It is perhaps THE asset. Of course, it can be a means to obtain cash that may carry us through hard times. More than anything though, it literally keeps a roof over our heads. And, as I wrote in my last post, it may have far greater value than what “the market” says it’s worth. The days of selling it and “moving up” are dimming. Especially in our current economic reality. As a society I hope we may be reevaluating our perceptions of value. It’s about time. I see younger generations fearing they may never own a home, equity in their nation. We are drifting away from the “bigger is better” plague that created a whole generation of “house poor” homeowners. We are seeing that smaller can work very well in so many ways; easier to keep, maintain and improve when needed.
The “keep” part is what I want you to glean from this ramble. Any house can be a good house if managed within your means, skills and resources. It is a matter of ‘stewardship’. Something we as a people must strive for. If you can get a house, get it and hold onto it. The second part holds especially true if you already have one. Be patient and thoughtful. It may not be what you want ideally at the onset but, with time and careful consideration, you can make any home your own. Don’t view it as a piggy bank but rather as your family base. Tough times are lot more tenable when your head is dry and your children are warm. Not to mention that our society favors people who own homes. So, although it feels like the odds are against you, the fight is worth it.
My dad was successful by any measure. We lived in a lovely concrete block home they purchased in the 50’s. It was smallish by current standards. About 1600 s.f. with terrazzo floors, no A/C, oil heat, steel casement windows and a gravel roof. It leaked air like a sieve. The neighborhood was vibrant. I spent my entire youth there from birth to college. It changed in a deliberate way as dad wisely deemed appropriate. Air conditioning was a huge evolution. Then more efficient windows. Then carpet. Hallelujah, a shingle roof! The one-car garage became a dining room suitable for epic Irish/Catholic Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Stewardship of our home was the foundation to our quality of life. Once I asked dad why we lived there when he was successful enough to have a much bigger house? He asked me how many rooms our house had? I thought a minute and said 7 and 2 bathrooms. He asked how many rooms I could be in at one time? I replied, “One”. He said “excellent, you have 6 other choices at this moment. Pick one and go there!” I got the point. We wanted for little as I remember. We all worked very hard but keeping the house never overcame our quality of life. Rather, it was the basis. It was ample and served us well.
Getting a home now is harder than ever in our brief history as a nation. An existing home is a great start if you can find one. You will definitely need to grow comfortable with ‘compromise’! You may also have to realign what you perceive as “need”. Smaller isn’t a bad thing. Easier to afford and easier to maintain. Like a family, it can grow thoughtfully over time until one day it may be the great seed that can allow for your children and their children to prosper. Who knows? Only time will tell.
Until next time…
