Love The One You're With In Houston

I am very excited about today's guest post in the "Love The One You're With" series. If I (and many others) have said it once I have said it a million times, it is amazing the spectacular people you meet in the blog world. Deb is someone who not only has been a great blogging friend but also made a permanent mark on my heart and has been a light during dark times. Dumwit Tellher makes me laugh out loud, cry sometimes and inspires me constantly. Her thoughtfulness shines at all time as you can see below......

Loving the one you're with isn't always as easy as singer Stephen Stills sang back in 1971. Although, "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with," was & still is, darn good advice.Love comes in so many forms; it can be disguised and expressed in a variety of mysterious and mischievous ways. I suspect that for those of us who covet design, one of our main outlets would be where we begin and end each day....home.
Since 1977 with my first home purchase under my belt and now 8 homes later, it's like having gone to medical school; you have learned to perfect aortic valve bypass. Now with our home here in Houston on the market, you begin to question your choices as perspective home buyers and agents dissect your home and question your style. But at the end of the day I know that our choice was a good one. This 1981, 4330 sq. ft. home was a custom built that was sold for over $265,000 back in the day. The owner's then preceded to put another whopping $80,000 into a custom over-sized pool, patio and landscaping that included 12 palm trees. So what sold us on this home? It was that eye popping pool. Yes of course the home has an abundance of built-in's that you don't see in a spec home. A tremendous plus both architecturally and for they're practicality. Then there is the two-story windows in the great room, custom moldings throughout and very large rooms; safe neighborhood and great schools. The kind of house you'd like your kids to bring their friends home to. Plenty of space and room for Mom & Dad to hide.
Today, I watched a segment on NBC's The Today Show. The story was about a young couple from Portland, Oregon that over the last 3 years have trimmed down their belongings and their way of living to a bare minimum. Their message was 'can money buy you happiness'? They live in a 650 sq. ft. Portland apartment and sold their car. They allowed themselves each to keep 100 personal items and the rest they donated to charity. The point I am trying to make is our love of our home comes in all shapes and sizes. It's about the memories, the hard work and about making it our own. Pick out those things that drew you to your home and build on that. If I've learned anything in this life it is that knowing how to love what you have and finding contentment is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. It's one of the greatest things you can teach your children. There is always better, bigger and a fancier address. But what makes your home special is you. For us, we are moving to Scotland and we will be renters. For once in my life, it's sounding really good. Now let's get back to that pool!

Marianne thank you sincerely for asking me to participate in your though provoking series. It was a great joy.

Thank you again Deb, I couldn't say it better! For more from Deb visit Dumbwit Tellher or HERE or HERE.