Inbuilt desire to own.....

I wonder when the first seeds are sewn into our mind that we should have a home of our own. What conscious or subconscious thoughts are placed to return time and time again to start up the yearning for our own home. It's okay when you do own your home, you settle into a routine of living in what you have, decorate it as you so desire and maintain and improve it until its use is up. Then thoughts go to "is it time we move? do we need a bigger or smaller space? Do we want to live in a different suburb closer or further away from town etc etc etc."

My parents were 10 pound Poms from England. They moved to Brisbane in 1964 and for the next 6 years they moved 6 times. Then my Mum put her foot down and told Dad that the next house they bought had better be the one he could live in for a long time because she wasn't moving again.

So they bought a 3 bedroom brick house on an acre of land, 28kms from Brisbane. It was a very basic rectangle box and was considered to be located in the "sticks". They paid $14k for it then and 26 years later sold it for $220k. They had extended with a further 3 bedrooms, double garage, swimming pool and it was fully landscaped. Two years after it sold again for $650k.
They had been happy in this house, it had served them well. They saw 3 kids grow up, get jobs, drive and park numerous vehicles in the front yard, move out, move back, and move out finally for good. Then they were empty nesters, a large big house with the two of them echoing through it.
So the thoughts started of moving again, to a smaller more manageable block, to a more suitable house. It wasn't long and they sold and moved to the eighth home. Three years later they did it again.... sold and bought the "final retirement" Unit. Located close to my brother and his family, across from the beach and close to all the amenities they would need to see their later years out. Their next stop would be an aged care facility and this could be years away.

So when you no longer own your home and you rent a home why then does the yearning start all over again?

My needs are simple..... Our needs are simple.....

We live in town - right in the CBD. We really enjoy the convenience and ability to walk to work, walk to restaurants, shops and local events. Our rental home is what we need to house us (except for the lack of cupboards) with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas, kitchen and separate dining. It has parking but NO backyard. The lack of a backyard is the only thing letting it down (other than NO cupboards). My son likes where we live, enjoys catching the school bus to town and then the short stroll home via his friends coffeeshop. But he hates that we don't have a backyard. Where as Michael loves the fact he has no lawn to mow, no weeds to pull and no hedges to cut, Mackenzie would like to be able to kick a ball and not have it roll down the street. I too miss the ability to sit out the back in the sun and read the paper or to have my outdoor setting nicely set out for lunch and entertain in private. So next time I would like a small backyard that would allow Mackenzie to kick a ball around, scoot on his scooter, for the maintenance to be minimal and for the peace to begin.

It's a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.....

Assuming that every mother wants to protect their children and family is just what it is .... an assumption. But I do.... cross one of my children or my husband and look out for the Lioness slinking up behind you! I am not the violent type but I will slay you with the written or spoken word and my eyes will lock you in with a deadly look.

One thing that has been gnawing away at me is the need to have our own bricks and mortar - again. I am becoming increasingly frustrated with renting. Yes we rent because we have to but I don't have to be happy doing it. It solves the purpose now but it doesn't ease the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Once upon a time ago I would have wanted the three level mansion with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms that could house a few families. Been there.... done that. Brought back to reality very quickly, and more realistically now, my wish is for a simple house to accommodate the four of us and the cats.