the reality of dreams

An acquaintance of mine had a dinner party Friday night. She’s living in her parents’ home, where she has lived all her life, but now her entire family lives out of state. They moved about a month ago, leaving her to keep the historic, adorable house nice while real estate agents sometimes drop in with prospective buyers.

This acquaintance—well, friend, maybe now—is 23 or 24. She works as an accountant and makes $50K a year. Maybe because of her profession, maybe because of my interests, the subject of money came up a few times. Friend bought a couch, her first, last month and it should be delivered very soon. It’s her first furniture purchase.

When we ate the delicious soup she’d prepared, we sipped out of the cutest brown soup bowls you’ve ever seen, complete with a matching large bowl, from which to serve. She just got them at Crate & Barrel. She had green and white napkins, homemade bread and tiny silver spoons to go with coffee cups afterward. These items, along with her coming couch, are her beginnings of a home.

Friend has the unusual privilege of putting her first place together slowly, with the convenience of a home to live in while she collects. When the house sells, she’ll start renting, she says. The average price for a nice apartment/condo in the area: $800/month, not including utilities. She says that’s a little steep for her; she hasn’t been able to save much (!). But she’s got some time, which I relate to, and gets to wait and see what happens with the home sale.

Beyond the reminder about saving, the biggest thing I got from our chat was the fun in beginning to collect for a first place. Personally, I’m reluctant to rent for two years, when I could put that money away, planning for a home purchase. And even in two years, I won’t have the looming deadline above me, knowing my residence could be sold at any time. But I think I might start putting my dreams into action. I might start letting myself notice the dishes I love or the pitcher that catches my eye. It might be time to begin a little wish list.

Filed under buying/renting |