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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does the novelty of living in a nice house ever wear off?

273 replies

Havanna1 · 23/04/2021 19:36

Before I start, I promise this isn’t a stealth boast, and actually, to a lot of people, our house won’t even be that nice.

We moved 2 years ago to a decent sized house with a big garden in a ‘chocolate box’ rural village. I feel so lucky every day when I drive home to live where we do.

However, I was sitting in the garden just now with a glass of wine, looking at the pretty (field) views, it was so peaceful, silent apart from birdsong and I just felt this overwhelming sense of gratitude.

I get it every time I drive into the drive and after 2 years I’d have thought the novelty would’ve worn off by now. DH said the same, that he feels so happy every time he gets into the drive, when he’s sitting in the back garden etc.

For those that live in pretty much their dream home in their dream location, does the novelty ever wear off? In 10 years time will we be pretty apathetic towards it all?

I worry so much that it’s all going to come crashing down so I’m really trying to enjoy it as I know I might not always feel as fortunate as I do now.

OP posts:
Loveistheonlyway · 23/04/2021 19:40

I still love my house after half a century but I suppose you do eventually get a bit complacent, just human nature I guess

Tal45 · 23/04/2021 19:44

I lived in my house 20 years, it's ex council so not posh but is rural with a lovely big back garden that I love more and more each year as I plant more and more things and watch it become a really lovely space. It's a pretty looking house too and I still love it after all this time (although there are a few things that drive me nuts!). So I don't see why you wouldn't still love it as time goes on.

Invisimamma · 23/04/2021 19:47

I live in a very bog standard 3 bed semi, quite small by most people's standards but I love it. We've done a lot of work over the past few years to get it feeling nice. I've worked hard for it and it's our home, my happy place. Nothing fancy and not a dream home by any standards but I still feel very fortunate to have a lovely home.

Bluntness100 · 23/04/2021 19:49

No, I’m seven years in and I still love it, and worry as you do. I have friends who moved to their dream location on retirement a couple of years ago, leaving behind a small house in London, so now in a huge rural property and she sat and cried with happiness in the garden the first night, they also still feel the same.

We have spent a lot of time and money doing ours up, and rhe house is always neat and tidy, I’m always thinking of what to do next, and I commented to my husband I never used to be so tidy when I was young snd he said “ it’s because you’re house proud”. Which made me look at him funny as it’s such an old fashioned term and I’m no ones idea of a house wife, but fundamentally I think he’s right, I’m proud of what we have achieved so take the time to keep it looking good.

Nonmaquillee · 23/04/2021 19:50

Nope.
Never

FridayNightAtTheBronze · 23/04/2021 19:51

I think it depends on if your house 'ticks all the boxes' or if there are any things you had to compromise on.

For instance, I'm in a townhouse. I love my house, and I loved it when I bought it. However there are so many stairs! In order to get the space we needed we compromised on getting a house that was set over 3 floors instead of two, as the house is generally very narrow.

As time goes on, the stairs are becoming more of an issue, and once mobility is a problem then the love for the house will definitely wear off.

My husband and I have already agreed our next house will be a bungalow!

GappyValley · 23/04/2021 19:52

I grew up in what I can only describe as hovels, then dragged myself up the property ladder with a serious of do-er uppers and/or areas on the up

4 years ago, we bought our dream house in our dream location, albeit another do-er upper.
And we are now nearly done doing up, and I still have to pinch myself most days.

I think I survived lockdown better than many of our friends because I love this house so much, and haven’t grown bored or resentful of it.

I was even happy to use up some holiday by just taking some time off to be at home. As someone who is usually a 5* hotel addict and holiday snob, that’s probably the highest praise I can give my house!

MrsGRamsay · 23/04/2021 19:54

You’ve got a milder strain of ‘Paradise Syndrome’ as coined by the zillionaire twat; David Stewart of former Eurythmics fame.

All will be ok unless next door gets a helipad or swimming pool and then you’re fucked; you’ll be commissioning plans for Russian Oligarch Notting Hill stylie triple storied basement - including car lift for your Ferrari(s) / McLaren(s).

arethereanyleftatall · 23/04/2021 19:54

I'm 15 years in, and, not yet. I don't think ever. I smile every time I drive in my driveway and see my house.

Funnyface1 · 23/04/2021 19:55

We're 3.5 years in and both still love it and say so often. We've changed things every year, most recently the living room, new fire place etc and the more we do to it the more I love it. It was an absolute dream come true to buy our house and it's ended up being even better than I thought.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 23/04/2021 19:56

No it doesn’t.

speakout · 23/04/2021 19:57

No, I count myself very lucky every day.

GappyValley · 23/04/2021 19:57

@MrsGRamsay

You’ve got a milder strain of ‘Paradise Syndrome’ as coined by the zillionaire twat; David Stewart of former Eurythmics fame.

All will be ok unless next door gets a helipad or swimming pool and then you’re fucked; you’ll be commissioning plans for Russian Oligarch Notting Hill stylie triple storied basement - including car lift for your Ferrari(s) / McLaren(s).

I disagree with this The nextdoor street to us is beautiful. Huge houses in the next price bracket to ours - off street parking and grand proportions and much bigger gardens

We could probably just about afford one at a push but is have zero inclination
I genuinely love my house to the exclusion of all others!

cptartapp · 23/04/2021 19:58

We are semi rural with fields to four sides yet ten minutes from the city. I have just finished work and sat in the garden overlooking horses grazing at the back. Touching distance. Red kites flying overhead. I will never ever take it for granted.
Some friends have bigger houses, swimming pools, saunas and cinema rooms, but they don't have open views like us. Wouldn't swap for the world.

ZooeyS · 23/04/2021 19:58

I have become a bit blasé over the years but when new people visit and are invariably very flattering about the house I do have to remind myself how very lucky I am.

ilikebungalows · 23/04/2021 19:59

My husband and I have already agreed our next house will be a bungalow!

Hurrah! You'll love it!

Laggartha · 23/04/2021 20:00

Hedonistic Adaptation is a thing, so you're lucky!

Ellpellwood · 23/04/2021 20:00

I still love ours - also a 3 floor narrow townhouse but with 3 double bedrooms and a study, front and back garden, right in town, near work/nursery. After 8 years though I am regularly checking Rightmove and dreaming of a utility or dining room. I think as long as you have the space you need the novelty will stay! It's just toddler DS is A Lot when we're in one room on my days off.

flapjackfairy · 23/04/2021 20:01

I love my house and have lived in it for 20 yrs. We live in a poor area but have a lovely large Victorian semi with original features etc. It wouldn't be posh by lots of peoples standards but we have done it up a bit at a time and are nearly finally finished.
It has a lovely feel to it and I have always just felt at home in it . But I am constantly scared to be too happy and settled because I fear something might force us to move in the future such as nightmare neighbours. I think it stems from a childhood that involved frequent moves up and down and
the country. I learnt never to settle too much .
So to answer your question no I dont think the novelty does wear off but I just wish I could relax and enjoy it more .

Winecheesesleep · 23/04/2021 20:03

That sounds lovely! Objectively my house ticks all the boxes and is a great house but I don't love it like that, I hope I do for our next place.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 23/04/2021 20:05

I find this a strange op but hope you continue to have very many happy years in the house you love.

DinosaurDiana · 23/04/2021 20:05

I love my house but I am getting fed up of cleaning it all.
I sometimes dream of a two bedroom bungalow.

piratepee · 23/04/2021 20:08

I'll never have my dream house in my dream location as it will cost 10m 😆

AgeLikeWine · 23/04/2021 20:14

I have lived in a nice, but not particularly large, house for many years. It’s a modest stone-built barn conversion located on the edge of one of the nicest villages in the county. We could have bought a cookie-cutter modern house twice the size for our budget but we have zero regrets.

I never, ever, get bored of the views of the beautiful English countryside, or watching the seasons change or the sight of the cows grazing contentedly in the field across the road and the water birds on the reservoir behind us.

SuperMonkeys · 23/04/2021 20:16

7 years in here. Our house wouldn't be perfect to everyone, but we have loved it from day 1. It is a bit of a building site right now but I love everything about it.

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