I love holidays and any other reason to slow down to celebrate life. I was remembering how discouraged I felt when renting an apartment for a couple years before I bought my second house. It was frustrating enough knowing that each month I was paying $600.00 to my landlord instead of paying that money to a bank toward a mortgage on my own home but more than that it bothered me that I was so restricted in how I lived my life. I didn’t have enough room for all my big, tropical plants; I couldn’t find a place that would allow me to bring my 10 year old cat that I had since he was a kitten; and no one would allow me to keep my Golden Retriever that I had paid $700.00 for just six months ago. In some ways renting felt like I still lived at home with mom and dad - the only difference was I had a landlord telling me what I can and can not do under his roof. Do you ever feel like your landlord is your parent? Renting really inhibited me from feeling like an independant adult.

When I moved into my second home I was able to invite as many friends/family over as I wanted to. The first summer in my home I invited around 50 people over to celebrate my birthday with me. I was never able to do that when I was in my apartment - there wouldn’t have even been enough parking paces. We hired a band from Boston and enjoyed a BBQ on the deck, playing horseshoes, etc. I love filling my home with family and friends. Holidays are ment to be celebrated with loved ones… the more the merrier. I guess it’s a good thing I bought a 2000 square foot Victorian so I can fit them all in the dining room for Thanksgiving and around the tree at Christmas time

Have a safe and happy holiday season.