House . . . no, HOME

It didn't look like that when I found it, with the assistance of a highly motivated realtor.
I told her what I could afford in monthly payments; what I had in available cash for a down payment; and that I had to be able to assume an existing loan.
She found two places, both with the same floor plan, in the same neighborhood.

This is the other one:

We couldn't get into it the day we went looking.
It turns out that was advantageous.
The lot at my home was wide enough at the front to eventually add a new, larger garage and convert the original garage to a family room.

That remodel was 24 years ago.
It means I lived in the remodeled place longer than anywhere else.
So you might understand why there were "mixed feelings" a week ago, Monday, when I signed the paperwork.
Nostalgia is a funny thing.
I let go of a lot when my signature went on the bottom line.
It really didn't need any of it.

I have all that I need and very little of it is stuff.
In fact I have more Stuff* than I want.

This is my home today.

Everything I want is here.

there's even a

 darn palm tree

 next door