This will be long, feel free to skim if you don't enjoy indepth context.
I recently bumped into a friend I haven't seen since we left school (now mid 40s).
We were friends in primary school and then in high school. We were very close all throughout, best friends really, but we had a really unhealthy competitive thing going on. When I look back, it is weird because I'm not a particularly competitive person in general and haven't had this sort of dynamic in any other relationship in my life, but with her there was this real "I love you but I want to be better than you at any cost" situation that meant there was always a sharp edge to the friendship. Definitely a two way thing - she'd be open about wanting to beat me at everything too. Really can't pinpoint why - except that we were very close in age, both very sporty and generally would be at or near the top of the class so it would often be either me or her getting the top grade or being made captain of the team etc. Also we were both considered quite pretty and popular, so I guess other people would compare us a lot Which created competition.
Anyway, we eventually fell out for good at 17, when she "stole my boyfriend". I'm obviously joking here, hence the inverted commas, as they were equally to blame. But at the time, being very young, I blamed her more because the betrayal from her felt worse and (with the benefit of adult reflection) it probably stung because it felt like she won him and I lost. Anyway, she was then dead to me and she wasn't actually at all remorseful and then hated me back equally so we did not talk at all. Both then moved away for uni, not been in touch since.
I returned to our hometown shortly after finishing uni, I was aware via the grapevine that she'd moved to London.
Roll on last week, when I'm filling my car with petrol and sense someone looking at me. It's her, filling her car at the pump across from me. I waved and we had a short chat. Obviously all the boyfriend stealing stuff is water under the bridge, and it was a genuinely nice short catch up. She explained she's recently moved back to the area and said the name of the road she lives on, said a few generic things like "it's lovely leaving london and having more space, it's very close to my daughter's school" etc. All good, said we'd probably see each other around. Said bye.
Anyway, this road she lives on is basically the main road leading in to town so I drive on it daily on my way to work. It's long and has over 100 houses of varying sizes and style. This morning on my way to work, I see her coming out of her house with her DD. Now to the point of my post:
Her house is basically a bloody huge mansion. Like, it wouldn't look out of place on MTV cribs. I already know the house because when it went up for sale, several of my WhatsApp group chats with work/family/school mums were sharing the rightmove listing because this house is such a stand out. Think swimming pool, 5 huge bedrooms all with boutique hotel style ensuites, huge sweeping kitchen that looks like it's out of an interiors magazine etc. Whether it's your taste or not, I think everyone would agree it's a wow. My house is pretty nice - detached 4 beds, decorated nicely etc, but hers is something I could only afford if I won the lottery.
And I'm absolutely seething with jealousy.
No aibu, because I absolutely know I'm unreasonable. But has anyone got any tips on how I can will myself to be less jealous and miserable about her beautiful house? Please feel free to share any tales of your own jealousy and how you overcame it.