If I was 20 years younger, I'd probably think more seriously about a condo. Even now, I'm not writing off a condo, but I'll have more time to research once I'm out of this house.

Deviated septum over here too. I didn't even know what that was until they told me I had it. The MRI of my sinuses looked like filigree. Plus asthma. How the hell can I breathe at all. And there's no such thing as a non-drowsy antihistamine for me. Symbicort inhaler, albuterol inhaler when it gets bad, Nasacort nasal spray, and Singulair. And this --> "Meanwhile, lots of coughing, constant slightly stuffy nose, chronic fatigue." Yep.

But I'm not doing surgery. I have a well-earned phobia. I'm gonna need to be near death to have surgery again, I imagine.

It's such a weighty decision, to buy a house. My mortgage payment in VA was $750, my rent in NJ for a 1-bed apartment was $1200, so it was worth it for me, taxes and maintenance and all. But in a different place or a different situation, or if I hadn't been ready to "settle down", it might not have been the right thing even if the money worked out.

I don't find home repair and maintenance very stressful, but that's partly because (a) I hire someone to do the heavy yard work, and (b) keeping up a newer house is pretty easy in comparison to the old money pit I had before.

The allure of not having to care for a lawn is mighty, but I wouldn't like having to pay condo fees. My sister has a big-ass yard but her nabe has HOA fees and she hates it. The fee goes mainly to pay for the pool and clubhouse that she never uses anymore, and the HOA board are control freaks. I'd rather find a nabe where nobody gives a shit if my grass is tall. I want bees and butterflies and wildflowers, not perfectly manicured grass.

Fluticasone, I hope. (Fluoxetine is Prozac;

nah, snortin' Prozac

My mother's finally about to pay to have our tiny front yard done over for low maintenance. I guess it's going to be bushes and ground cover, for the most part. For YEARS, we have been the house on the increasingly nice street with the crappy yard that is either dirt or all weeds. So that's exciting. I don't believe in lawn, for so many reasons.

For YEARS, we have been the house on the increasingly nice street with the crappy yard that is either dirt or all weeds.

Hah! Story of my life. Not just yards, I think.

The house looks pretty good, at least.

AND my mother is going to pay! I was going to pay, because I can't take it anymore, and also don't want to do yard work.

I feel like I am the only person here who loves gardening! And owning a home! Oh wait Sara loves her home too. There are two of us! Growing up in the projects and always living in someone else's house (rentals) drove me nuts because I couldn't paint the way I wanted to paint, and I didn't want to invest blood, sweat, and tears into someone else's land.

I feel like I am the only person here who loves gardening! And owning a home! Oh wait Sara loves her home too. There are two of us!

HEY! I love owning a home! No regrets at all!!!

I could theoretically like gardening but I am very, very bad at it.

I like gardening, but I don't love lawn care.

I like gardening, but I don't love lawn care.

Why I got rid of my lawns!

I feel like I am the only person here who loves gardening!

I thought I'd love gardening! But ... spiders. Everywhere in our yard. Plus sunlight.