Enlarging the house

We've been playing around with the idea of enlarging our house. On one hand the "master bedroom" is tiny, and I hate being at the western end of the house, and the livingroom, for whatever reason never seemed large, especially since the kids got us a gift of a large "cocktail table." And on the other hand, the house is very empty most of the time. We've been empty nesting for years. It used to be that it filled on most Shabbatot and all Jewish Holidays. But now it's common to be alone, unless I invite neighbors for a meal or two.

Every few weeks and plenty of the holidays, our married daughter comes with her husband and two daughters. They fill the house, and there's hardly any room for the girls to play. And, G-d willing, next week, in just a few days, trekking son will be returning. At present he plans on basing himself here, but he's 24, and can end up doing almost anything.

Over a year ago, an architect-builder made up plans for us, which are tempting, though I can't imagine myself living with builders for months on end. The renovations would utilize our unfinished attic to make the master bedroom suite of my dreams, with a view of the sunrise. Plus another couple of bedrooms up there. Downstairs we'd change the entrance, lose a small bedroom and toilet and end up with a larger livingroom.

I don't know if it's cost effective, in that the selling price would increase to the extent of expenses.

Also, even if everyone (all the kids at present) visits, we can still fit everyone in. Of course if G-d willing more would get married, it would be more complicated. We should only have such challenges.

On the other hand, we're not getting any younger. I'd hate to leave my kids a much larger house filled with even more clutter than we already have. My parents and many other elderly people are, in a sense, imprisoned in houses larger than they need, because sorting through all their possessions and throwing out and giving away most of it is too overwhelming.

In the interim, I made more room in the livingroom/diningroom by moving the diningroom table so that its length is on the short wall, giving more space, especially so we can put the baby on a blanket on the floor to play. I've also announced that we're making some changes in the bedrooms, so that the entire young family will be able to fit into one, rather than needing more. Hopefully the trekker will help with the moving and painting.

The "problems of the rich."

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach!