The credit for this post goes to Ann Coleman at muddlingthroughmymiddleage.com. I’m not exactly stealing the idea, but as soon as I read Ann’s post about Moving On, it struck such a chord with me that I knew I had to tell my somewhat similar story.
My husband thinks that I’m a nostalgic mess. After feeling affronted, I realize that he is right.
We bought our my dream house in 1999-2000. Sometime around then. Don’t get me wrong, he really liked the house, too, but I loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
It is on the side of a mountain, no neighbors in sight during the summer, no noise except the howling of coyotes at night. We have seen mother deer nursing their fawns, have had minx in the backyard and one time a black bear stroll down the driveway.
This house is a large colonial which was good since together we have four children, and at various times my two daughters moved in with their infants and lived with us until they were back on their feet.
We also had two dogs and with four acres, they could run around without leashes and stayed put. I always said that the top part our “yard,” which was a long, steep slope to a large mowed area, provided a great view for the dogs that was like watching a large screen HD TV.
Then a family tragedy struck and we had to sell the house and move. One does what is necessary in situations like this, and we had to sell. There was no question nor other option. Family comes first.
But I was devastated. We sold the house in 2010? Around then. Periodically, we drive by and it looked sort of the same, except the yard work, fence work, rock walls and garden that we (mostly my husband) built and took such pride in, started to fall by the wayside and weren’t tended the way we wanted. Oh well.
Then, a couple of years ago, it started to look deserted. No curtains on the windows, no toys are cars in the driveway. I checked around and everyone who knew the new owners said they lived there.
Well a couple of weeks ago, we saw that the yard looked extra-unkempt and the house was obviously empty. I went up and looked in the windows. There was a sign in a window from 2 years ago that the water was shut off to winterize the house. Turns out the house is in foreclosure.
My first reaction was YAY!!!! We can buy it back!!!!
My husband’s reaction was ARE YOU INSANE?
Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia.
All of our kids are adults, retirement is in the not-so-distant future and we are down-sizing from our already down-sized condo.
And I want to buy again our four bedroom huge colonial on four acres in the woods. Yes, yes I do.
I know it’s a pipe dream, but it is much cheaper now that it is in foreclosure. But more expensive than a pension and Social Security can justify. There is no way that we can turn back the clock and move back to this home. My dream home where we spent nine nostalically perfect years.
Shhhhhh…….don’t tell my husband, but I check the listing every day and drive by the house every week.
I’m a semi-realistic nostalgic mess.
saneteachers 
As usual an outstanding post. I always enjoy reading what you write for many reasons. The main reason being because they make me think. Whether it’s critical thinking or in this case just being nostalgic, you make me think. And that is a good thing…
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Don’t you dare buy my old house.
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Oh, I can understand this so well! When you truly love a home, it is so hard to leave it behind and the hope of moving back in some day never really leaves your mind. And your house does sound beautiful, plus you lived there with your kids!
My old house sold quickly, thank God, before I had the chance to do something stupid. Like buy it. It was also a colonial with all the bedrooms upstairs, but the only full bath downstairs so it would have needed some expensive renovation. It just wouldn’t be a good fit for my husband and I now, but there’s still a part of me that wants it, badly.
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Exactly. This one has a starting bid that is more than $100,000 less than it could be, but of course there is work to be done inside. And the auctioneer writes they will take less. They didn’t trash it, which was good. The outside they competely let go. It has a front porch the entire length of the house with wainscoting on the ceiling of the porch. They never stained it again so the floor boards are warped with nails sticking out. We had it immaculate. Listen to me…..like I’m buying it again!
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It sounds beautiful, and a bargain at that. Trust me, I understand completely how hard it is to resist. If it helps to know, I feel your pain!
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Yes. Let’s talk about it some more.
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Having recently downsized and left the home where we raised our kids, I can understand this. We live near it, and every time I drive past it my heart skips a little. So add me to the nostalgic-mess club. 😁
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If my car wasn’t in the shop, lol, I’d drive up there today. By the way, my children are pressuring me to buy it again, too.
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My father bought the house I grew up in for $10,000 in the early 60’s. It was a large four bedroom house with a massive kitchen, large pantry and cozy den. By the 70’s, the neighborhood turned bad and he sold it for $6,000, bullet holes included.
Just before the housing crash, my brother, who bills his time at $300/hr was looking for a house. He sent me an internet link and asked if he should make an offer. It was our old house, listed for $860,000.
Like Thomas Wolfe wrote, “you can’t go home again” (even if you can afford too)
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That’s crazy! Is it true? I’m never quite sure with you…..lol. Did Thomas Wolfe add “but you should try to”?
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Why do I get the sense that you’re already working on “Happy Holidays from our new location” cards???
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HAHAHAHA That is such a good idea. They just have to drop the price $150,000 or more.
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Sounds like a wonderful house. I don’t blame you for being nostalgic.
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Ok I’ll move back. You talked me into it.
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Well, Barb, you know what they say, “Everything old is new.” Now that’s waxing nostalgic for you..
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Yay! I’m new!
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What goes around comes around. Oh god, Barb, I can’t stop the cliches!
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I’m trying to come up with a cliche, but I’m still on my first cup of coffee. He who throws stones at glass blogs…..
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Well, I’m shattered. 😀
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Hi Barb, from watching auctions and house restorations on tv I think you have nothing to lose by making a ridiculously low offer and leave it on the table, if it’s meant to be it will work out to your benefit. Good luck!
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I literally check the listing every day, lol. Thank you for the advice 🙂
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