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

[Havanna1]

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.

We moved into our house in 2002, it's far from perfect but there's a lot I love about it, and that pleasure hasn't worn off at all. Glad you are still loving your house so much, OP!

We bought our house 22 years ago, and have loved every single moment of them. It literally was our dream home when we bought it and still was....until our neighbours moved in over the road.

They're sat in their garden tonight with about 12 other people, music blaring, drink flowing, the road is blocked with cars and if we're really lucky, we'll get to sleep about 2am. Our dream home has become our nightmare.

@BlueDahlia69

never

I live in paradise 🌸

But have you ever been to you??

We've got used to the size of ours now. We used to skip through the rooms and spin sound of music like in the rooms! We don't do that anymore. But we still love it, we're still aware of how fortunate we are.

I've lived in my very small house in a village for six months and I'm only just getting used to the idea that it's mine. I don't think the novelty of not living in a bit city is ever going to wear off.

Not so much the house but the area, when I visit my old house I'm grateful I live in clean community spirited trees and forest area rather than chicken shop crime area

I'm not sure I personally ever really loved my house in the way you talk about it, I appreciate the fact it's been a happy home where I have brought up my children and that it's kept me warm and dry. I love sitting by the window with a blanket when it's completely pouring with rain or snow outside!! But I do also tire of the endless cleaning and maintenance, and when something big needs to be done I dread it! Currently need to get the roof repaired and dealing with builders and roofers is exasperating, so many no-shows! Not the house's fault but definitely takes the shine off homeownership.

I have been here 20 years and today when I finished work I sat on my back terrace with a glass of wine looking out at the woods and watching the birds and squirrels. It made me happy

No, 8 years in for me and most days I feel so blessed I could pinch myself. Obviously never say this to anyone except my husband (who feels the same), as it just sounds smug!

I've spent a lot of years renting and moving every single year (necessary for work), which meant that I couldn't decorate and had to make do with temporary inconveniences because it was 'only for a year'. It also meant that I had to be brutal about what I wanted to buy because I knew I'd have to pack it up again for the next move.

I changed my job, and then my partner and I bought a house last year and it's still a huge part of my happiness every day. We've painted and put up pictures, and for the first time ever we've planted a garden. It's really nice to have a home

The cat does it every time for me - fat furry ginger face hoving into view the second I open the front door. He's my portable home.

@cptartapp

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.

If you are in the SE the views won't be views for long as central government has dictated councils must provide an insane amount of new housing and funnily enough the developers prefer those lovely semi rural fields to pretty much anywhere else. My friend has a beautiful house with fields on 3 sides. Developers are currently trying to put in 3 separate 50 house estates, one on each side. It'll take a few years but they'll get planning eventually. It's how it works. Where I am new estates are planned all round the external perimeter of the village.

If I move again it will be either very very remote, or in town, so that I can be fairly sure that the surrounding area will stay pretty much the same.

I loved mine every day for the 8 years I lived in it.

Beautiful can conversion, rural, lovely garden, big drive - smiled every time I got home.

Then I got divorced and had to sell it and it became just a house.

Hopefully the next one will be just as wonderful.

Why do people think that living rurally is the dream? It's my worst nightmare.

But have you ever been to you??

😂🤣😂

Doesn’t wear off, we are in an area considered less desirable in my lovely county, but every day i drive home, see my gorgeous willow trees, my horses in the fields round my house and i go “ah” and realise how bloody lucky I am. Been there nearly 25 years.

It's lovely to read someone who appreciates the good things in their life.

@GilbertsLuckySocks so very true

I'm not sure if it's limited to big houses. I used to live in the most beautiful tenement flat in Edinburgh - just one bed but I did so much work to it and it gave me such joy every day walking through the door. I'm in a new build house now which to many is boring but again, I've done loads to it and made it into a lovely family home. I also feel very lucky.

I've lived in my house for 25 years almost and I still love coming home even though it's not "perfect".

I feel this way about my DCs.

My dream children made flesh. I’m so grateful for them.

But yeah, the house is not too shabby either. We only just moved (3 months) so the novelty definitely hasn’t worn off. @Havanna1 I’m delighted to know you are still smitten 2 years in.

I love our house and feel happy and grateful whenever I come home from being out. I love the look, size, location, plot. It still needs about 12 weeks of inside building work (and some landscaping) later this year to realise the full potential. Actually it’s fine as it is, but I want to bash around some walls, move a few doors, replace the old windows, new bathrooms and kitchen/utility. Then I may never go outside 😂 I’m happy with my company saying we’ll mostly be working from home as the “new normal”.

DH doesn’t see this as our long term home though. He’d prefer to sell now and move somewhere already done! He isn’t happy about having builders here and us moving to an airbnb for a month or two. So I think house love is a bit like dating, beauty’s in the eye of the beholder 😂

I also really enjoy and appreciate my home environment; especially in lockdown. It allows comfortable working from home and we enjoy our 'lunch hour' and 'tea breaks' in the garden in warmer weather.

It helps that our neighbours are lovely.

No! Not for me anyway.

I absolutely loved my most favourite house for 12 blissful years. It was a small terrace and I'd put my heart and soul into it. I would have stayed there longer had students not moved in next door. I'm looking for a bungalow now!