Keepin Up with the Jones

This evening we went on an exercise walk and as we were coming up the stairs the new neighbor started to talk to us. She was really nice and invited us up to her condo. It was beautiful! New paint, new carpet, new appliances, really nice furniture, everything spotless and in place. We felt a little gross being all sweaty and everything. Her son even had a nicer tv in his room than I have in my living room (mine is a $100 20 something inch "tube" tv that has lasted me seven years so far. There was no clutter at all and everything looked well organized and brand spankin new. We enjoyed talking to her and I said I'd invite her to my place in a few days.

Well, we both came down to my place afterwards and both started laughing at the same time. It was a nervous laugh. My furniture looks so college dorm after seeing that living room. I started to bionic clean my house afterwards in the hopes that it would somehow come out looking picture perfect like the home above me.

It didn't work.

Ah-well, my little place has character. It shows that someone lives here. It shows that projects are being worked on, that a gadget girl is trying out technology, and that Goodwill may get a visit soon (hence the pile of stuff by the front door). I've got clutter even though I scan everything into the computer. I sit on a couch I bought six years ago and should probably give to a family of boys for their basement family room. My 2nd bedroom is halfway painted because I didn't have the stamina or the interest in finishing the job. My treadmill is the center attraction of my living room along with the massive (and cluttered) bookshelf that spans an entire wall.

Well, this lady isn't going to be "keepin up with the Joneses" any too soon. But, this lady will hopefully do some other meaningful things. My home won't make it into a Martha Stewart (or preferably a Frank Lloyd Wright) magazine, but it is home after all.