Choosing A Home That Matches Your Lifestyle
Your home may be your castle, but a big part of your housing
decision-making is all about other people. Home is where most of
us experience not only the intimate aspects of our personal
development, but also the most important social interactions
that occur during the course of our lives.
Do you enjoy living alone in solitude, rarely entertaining
friends or family? Or do you enjoy the company of family and
friends at home and the feeling that you are attached to a
broader neighborhood or community? Either lifestyle is healthy
and natural; the challenge is to identify and honestly face the
social needs your home will be expected to serve.
Some people have a strong need for peace and quiet at home.
Others love the hustle and bustle of people around them, the
sounds of laughter and spontaneity. When the doorbell rings, do
you sag momentarily at the possibility of being interrupted, or
are you excited about who might be dropping by? Neither choice
is superior to the other.
The important point is to claim your true social identity and
make your housing decisions, in part, in light of that identity.
And, if you share your home with a partner or family members, it
is critical, before making the next housing decision, that
everyone's social needs be uncovered and addressed with
sensitivity.
A home can support a variety of lifestyles, but only if
decisions are carefully made. Each person's housing history,
habits and cultural preferences are rooted in social
relationships. Ideally, these relationships are respected and
reflected through their home.
It's a very good idea to identify your preferred lifestyle
before making a move. Do you prefer