This Old House

57 Replies
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PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“I’m sorry, I’m busy all day today.  After mowing and trimming, I have to clean the gutters.  There’s supposed to be a wicked storm this week and you know I told about the mess last time it rained.”

“This week the gutters, last week putting out mulch, the week before fixing your kitchen sink, the week before that…”

“I know, I know.  Sigh.  I’ll eventually have a free day.”

“That old house sure keeps you busy.  It’s been months, years, since you’ve had any time…”

“Tell me about it.”

“Why did you buy it, anyway?”

“For the freedom it affords.”

***

Word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.

57 thoughts on “This Old House”

  4. Inside the Mind of Isadora

    I could relate to this story,Trent, as I’m sure many home owners can. The work never seems to end.
    Our home isn’t old but general maintenance is always there. But, it’s all worth doing .I’ve always lived in my own home even growing up. I can’t imagine being at someone else’s mercy. Good one …
    Isadora😎

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Along with home ownership comes responsibility – any house can be a lot of work. It is never ending,and, I’ll admit, there are times I wonder if it is worth it. Other times, yeah, I know it is ;) Thanks :)

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      In my long life I’ve owned 5! (That includes the two very old ones I currently own). Owning a house, any house, is a lot of responsibility, but some are worse than others. Thanks.

      Like

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. I love old houses, but they are a lot of work and there is always something that needs to be done! Actually, any house is work, but old houses are the most demanding.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I think you are right, that to the MC freedom is freedom from having to socialize – I do know people who like to putter around the house, doing odd jobs, more than anything on earth and would willingly spend their entire waking days doing it…

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Those big projects can be satisfying, but also frustrating… And often it is the day to day upkeep that gets you down more than the big projects… But I wouldn’t trade it for a new house or condo for anything…

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Old houses just have so much character that new houses lack – I now have two money pits about the same age as yours, though only the “new” one is actively being renovated. Well, “actively” may be a bit optimistic right now ;)

      Liked by 1 person

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  15. Na'ama Yehuda

    For some, this is a freedom they seek – the business of taking care of a house, which allows them to bow out of too much socializing … Walls may have ears, but they normally don’t talk back … :)

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      lol, true. And though the house may have ears, you hope there isn’t a person on the other side of the wall listening in – a possibility in an apartment or condo… Occasionally, as I’m doing work around the house, I wonder if condo life would be better, but those moments usually pass pretty quick.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. Na'ama Yehuda

        Very VERY possible in NYC apartments, I can tell you that … Many of us know EXACTLY what it going on at neighbors’ apartments on the other side of the wall … including during all kinds of, um, activities … ;)

        Liked by 1 person

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  17. Dale

    Killer last line… Freedom, my ass. I am sitting here after the pool guy just left, telling me yeah… we have to break the cement to fix the problem… If it didn’t cost $20K to have it filled…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I am living in it now. Actually, two old houses… Any house is a lot of responsibility and needs a lot of attention, but, as you know after 25 years, it needs to be a labor of love to live in an old house.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply ↓
        1. trentpmcd Post author

          House #2 is going to be our retirement house. We are going to slowly fix it up, most, hopefully, by the time we will live there full time. You’d think with old house #1 we would have learned our lesson ;)

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I know several people who love to putter around their houses, doing odd jobs. After a full work week, it relaxes them… For me? Well, I guess there is some responsibility for every good thing, but sometimes that responsibility on home ownership can seem a little overwhelming, particularly for an old house ;)

      Liked by 1 person

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  22. Sarah Potter Writes

    Neatly done, Trent. Old houses are like that. We’re busy decorating at the moment, having done no decorating at all for 15 years. Even the painting of one kitchen ceiling and some door and window frames has brightened the place up considerably.

    Liked by 2 people

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