67 South Allegany Ave.
February 17th, 2012 - The day I bought my first, and only, landlocked domicile. A huge milestone for anyone, I had finally made it. Dreams were coming to fruition.
Warm fireplace on a cold winters evening
I still look back on the experience of owning a home as extremely positive. I learned skills I still use to this day, I had amazing neighbors, and I came to many realizations in that time. I did renovations, improvements, customizations and made it a very comfortable environment... too comfortable.
Minnie and Azareeyah in the backyard
I think humans in general need struggle, but I at least know that I need struggle. I don't want to drown, but I can't spend much time at all reclined in comfort. Everyone's heard that the devil find work for idle hands. To exchange the religious for science, the first law of thermodynamics says 'energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another.' Hands can't stay idle while there is energy in need of transfer.
I don’t think Minnie was drinking, but she enjoys passing out all the same.
Best case scenario for my idle hands were projects around the house, worst case was throwing alcohol down my throat and more often than not it was the latter. I'm not proud of it's what it was. I think I am better for having been under the spell of the demon rum and worked to overcome it. I had to change my entire mindset which felt like changing the direction of the wind. I managed to stay on my two feet until the wind started blowing in the right direction.
I think a lot of people know this, but this house burned to the ground exactly one month after I sold it. I won't get much into that story as that is the current owners story. My story is that of ending the homeowner chapter of my life and having closure on it. While I am very saddened that it is gone, I can't deny that the finality of it was cathartic... Metaphorically of course... My lawyer advised me to state that I did not burn the house down and to speak no further on the subject.
While I am hopeful I will purchase another ground-based home again someday, I can say it is not in the foreseeable future. So long and thanks for the memories.
