THINGS I WISH MY KIDS WOULD ASK ME
Editor's note: Barry Courter has a 24-year-old son who is a college graduate and a 19-year-old daughter who is a sophomore in college.
Q: Dad, would you buy an old house again, or would you buy something new?
A: Depends on which day it is. I have a real love/hate relationship with our 1926 Craftsman-style bungalow. Some days I appreciate the house's "character" - the squeaky floors, the hairline cracks in the plaster walls, and the doors and windows that don't match up just right. I love its beautiful lines and the craftsmanship that went building into the house. Other days, the amount of upkeep and the expense of maintaining it can be overwhelming, and all I see are chores to be done. The idea of doing something other than home repairs does have its appeal.