I have lived in nine houses, but only three of those have been “home”.  Each house has had unique qualities which drew me to settle for a period of time in my life.  The abode characteristics served the purposes most needed at that stage.

The first house that was truly home, was our house in Sierra Madre.  It was small-town America.  We could walk everywhere – the community pool, the library, the movie theater, the grocery store, school – all the essentials were close-by.  We had a great house with a large front porch to watch the action on the main boulevard, which still to this day, is not a busy street but ventures into the heart of the town.  It was the prime vantage point for the Fourth of July parade, an event we looked forward to every year!

Sierra Madre had great community building activities for other holidays as well.  For Halloween there was storefront window painting.  Kids would submit their designs to City Hall and if you were approved, you receive a window assignment.  The designs were left up for all to see throughout the couple weeks leading up to Halloween. The community would vote for the best in specific categories.  Prizes were awarded on the evening of the costume parade.  At Christmas time, the town square, would set-up a life-size Nativity scene.  Amazingly enough, Sierra Madre still carries on the tradition.  There would be nights of gathering in the square with candles and the singing of carols.

Sierra Madre was a wonderful town to grow-up in.  Unfortunately, development encroached on our small piece of heaven.  Having returned a couple of times, it’s clear that the residents were able to rein-in continued growth and the town still maintains the charm of my childhood years.

The next house that reflected home, was a rental house in the Snoqualmie Valley – The Little Blue House.  It was unique in every sense of the word.  Raised 8 feet, the house had storage at ground level with two additional floors of living space.  Being that far up gave a wonderful vantage point of the acreage the home sat on.  The owners lived next door and were always ready to assist when necessary.

Since the house sat at the convergence of two rivers, flooding was an annual event.  It sounds horrendous, but as a tenant without the responsibility of owning the structure, flooding events were almost fun.  Weird, I know.  The water rises very slowly and there is time to move vehicles and essentials that may be stored in the lower level.  The hardest part was creating a “pee-patch” for the dogs on the back deck.  Other than that, time was spent in the house, hunkered down until the waters receded – usually only a day or two later.  To go to work, my neighbor would come over in a canoe to pick me up at the stairs and paddle me to the high ground where our cars were parked.  Unique, indeed!

The charm of the Little Blue House was the views and the land.  Hmong farmers leased from the owners, and fields of flowers bloomed as far as the eye could see.  Further back on the acreage, farmers raised annual crops of feed grass and corn.  Elk often passed through the fields and bear and coyote were common along section we called the “runway” – a long grassy area bordered by thick blackberry bushes on one side and a marshy area on the other. Wildlife was plentiful!

We could walk the dogs freely on the nearly one hundred and sixty acres.  I took the Jeep 4-wheeling through mud and grass stretches – so much fun!  The best part?  We had a private sandy beach on the Snoqualmie River!  Bonfires, afternoons of swimming, dogs splashing – we were blessed beyond measure!  Again, it was small-town, rural USA.  The town had everything we needed within walking or short drive distance – grocery, library, takeout, pizza, second-hand stores, coffee shops, trails – life was good!

The last place I call “home” is our current house.  It is a unique Northwest craftsman with exposed beams and an open staircase nestled on a lush acre lot.  Trees galore along with water features, hillside and open field in front create an oasis.  Situated across from a lake park, trails and the water make for lovely evening walks.  In fact, our location has three lakes within a two-mile radius!  We were married in the pavilion in the park so it holds an even more special place in our hearts.  This place is home because it is the culmination of our story.  We love the yard and the views the house provides.  Even though we are on an increasingly busy street, the setting of the house and the number of trees provides privacy and a noise buffer.  Wildlife often visit – bear, bobcat, coyote, deer, raccoon, hawks, owls and my favorites, the squirrels.

Home is created by those you love.  The structure is important, but what you fill it with establishes the atmosphere.  Do you look forward to settling into the couch or relaxing in the yard?  Do you long to dig in the dirt or maintain the landscape?  Is the house filled with giggles and happy chatter?  Is there a sense of calm?  All of those things contribute to a home.  If there is contentment and love, home is complete.