Do you ever just get sick of your own place?

Question

We live in a little apartment with Big Foot and his mama above us. When they're awake, there's no peace and quiet. Yet we're not in a position to move, and when we do it will be to a house, not another apartment or townhouse or condo. Most of my personal stuff is in storage because there is just no room for anything else here. Some days I look around and wish I could do something to change it all. It's more like a bachelor pad, which of course, it was until I came along 2 years ago. I would dearly love to make changes, but I'm limited in what I can do. Any ideas for simple changes?

Anyone want to vacation at Goldwing's? It sounds like a wonderful place to come home to!

We aren't old enough for senior housing. Hubby really wants a house because he has so much woodworking equipment, he wants to set up shop. Right now all his stuff is either in storage, on loan to the church, packed in boxes.

We've got pretty good color on the walls and we have changed the furniture around. When you're temporarily stuck with stuff you don't like, well, you're stuck.

Thanks, everyone, for good ideas. Mostly thanks for letting me vent. Despite the little apartment and non-matching furniture, I still feel blessed and know I have more than many others.

Answer 1

Starting over in love and marriage is difficult at any age. Your blessed with hubby so it is rude and trite to say grin and bear it.
How about if we agree with you in prayer that just as hubbys ability to go on a mission is if it is God's will it is his bill. Also to agree you will be blessed as you forward in your marriage with a home. The perfect home for the two of you. You seem to be the type person who would be content with a nice home and are not wanting to live above your means in a grand scale.
Perhaps there will be someone in your church or a friend will enter your life that has a home they need to rent and eventually sell. My prayer is this happens sooner rather than later.
No answer on turning Bigfoot into a twinkle toes.

Answer 2

Lady G, my heart goes out to you!

You could try re-arranging a couple pieces of furniture. Pull the couch and a chair away from the wall and closer together to make a cozy spot (this can be done with two chairs instead of using a couch). Turn your dining table in a different direction.

Switch out some of the items between the apartment the storage.What is your favorite item that is now being kept in storage? Why not bring it to the apartment? A chair, a table, a picture, some books, the dishes, glasses, etc. can be easily switched.

Change a window treatment. Add some new accent pillows to the couch or chair. Add a pretty new throw to the couch or a chair. Add a couple of new pot holders and kitchen towels. Add some very nice hand towels to your bathroom.

Find a spot for a plant or two.

Use a bowl or tray to display seasonal items that you change at least 4 times a year. I have a couple trays that I change often. I just added two tiny pumpkins to one in our dining area.

I'm in the opposite situation....we are in a house, we need to remodal, and since my oldest daughter left home a few years ago, the clutter has gotten worse! argh!

Answer 3

Yes! When we were first married my husband was in sales and we were transferred often. I loved it, everything was always new to me-apt, people, stores, etc. Now we've been in the area 10 yrs and here 6 yrs. I like where we live in the country, but the 'house' is a double wide and there is only so much we can do to change it. My husband also does wood working and did build 2 building outback. When the main industry in the area went out, it hurt everyone and we can't afford to move either. I'm so ready to go somewhere new, but it would be much more expensive.

I try to surround myself with things of where I want to be. I'd like to have an old farmhouse on land someday. I have a ceramic house that I tell my family is my 'dream house'. I look at it often and imagine 'someday'. You can get pictures or other things that remind you of where you want to be and set up an area with these things that take you 'there'. I hope it won't be long until you can live where you'd like.

Answer 4

I hear you, LadyG - I was in somewhat the same situation until 16 mos ago. I had upstairs neighbors who were nice enough but heavy footed and she played the piano at her church so I was treated to her constant practicing [and she wasn't that good either! lol]. I was on the first floor and caught all the noise in the building. It was a 1 BR, small bath

I now live in 2 BR 2 BA on the top floor up in the trees and in the burbs and really love it...now I have a new problem...getting a bit old to do heavy house cleaning regularly yet insist on having a long haired cat!

Can't think of what you can do to alleviate your current situation but maybe planning for the house; and mentally focusing on that will make the other go away temporarily...;-)

Answer 5

Sorry about your living condition....I have my own house that we have remodeled into a coma...have produced a micro world of Hawaii here on our land...all open with french doors to decks from each bedroom, and here, we can live outdoors 10 months a year, often 12...so the outdoor space becomes part of the house...and we love our house. It is exactly what we have made it to be...gracious, yet very sexy, the yard has become part of the house, with koi ponds, water falls you hear at night, lush foliage, with high fences around the entire property. Once you walk through the gate, the outside world disappears, and that is great with me. The problem here is that I cannot go off on a vacation, for no resort is as nice as our house...bummer. But I have a tendency to grow tired of furniture realitively qickly so chane that often...perhaps i have an emotional disorder, or perhaps I cannot make up my mind...who knows ..what i do knwo is that people aroud here get some very good buys on relatively unused furnture wth grat regularity a s a resut of my changing tastes.

Answer 6

I live in a three story apartment complex with 110 apartments. I have always lived in the country but at this stage of my life, I am where I need to be and I'm grateful to still be able to live independently. I'd like some new furniture but what I have is fine and I'm comfortable with my grandkids climbing and playing on it. I've got my bedroom set up with my bed, books, TV, VCR, computer, scanner , stereo and all the comforts I could ever need. I've got the windows darkened and I call it my "cave." How blessed I am! God is good.

Answer 7

Yes, I moved from a big city to a place so rural there is only one stop light in the entire county. Been here for 2 years and I am getting cabin fever big time. I came here to do what I can for my sister who had a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side I am committed to stay for as long as I can be of help to her. Next month I plan to escape for a 2 day vacation to the nearest city. Hope that settles my mind down for a time. You can take an old man out of a city, but it is hard to get the city out of the old man.

Answer 8

Can truly empathize with you from the years of "liveable" housing during my Naval career. When I retired from the military, we went out on a limb and invested in a little place.
Between then and now we have worked it into the retirement home we both always wanted, and when I retired from the Postal service last year it was to step into "comfort" with 20 acres (about 10% wooded), a small pond, large garage to putsy in and lots of elbow room

Answer 9

lordy, I sure used to...seems like I was moving every year for a long time there.
I am in a little cottage style/craftsman wannabe house that was built in 1921. I love my place,it's not finished as I get both broke AND tired in the remodelling process,but I keep plugging away.I've painted the whole place in bright colors,and it's full of my art and my "prozac"furniture(my handpainted stuff),and plants.It probably wouldn't suit anybody else but me,and that's fine.
I sympathize with you LadyG,I spent time in a downstairs apt and thought I would haveta get me a gun!

Answer 10

Lady G, I sure hope you can get a house soon! You're living proof that the people are wrong that tell my husband and me we're nuts to keep our 4 bedroom home, instead of selling it and moving into a "nice little apartment or condo".