The Burgh vs. the Triangle, what gives? (Pittsburgh, Carnegie: appointed, how much)

[Tiger Beer]

Hey, an NPR interview about Californians moving to North Carolina!

Living the California Dream In North Carolina : NPR

Get this, it's titled "Living the California Dream In North Carolina"...

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Hey, an NPR interview about Californians moving to North Carolina!

Living the California Dream In North Carolina : NPR

Get this, it's titled "Living the California Dream In North Carolina"...

Not a bad story. Just listened.

Of course, the family they had to interview was an investment banker and family living in a 6,000 sf home in Charlotte. Ugh..Californians are just... so...Californian!

[TelecasterBlues]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Not a bad story. Just listened.

Of course, the family they had to interview was an investment banker and family living in a 6,000 sf home in Charlotte. Ugh..Californians are just... so...Californian!

I never understood the huge house thing...I'm only 24 and from a different demographic, but I honestly just want a loft or condo between 800-1,000 feet. Am I weird for not wanting a huge space to look after like everybody else?

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by TelecasterBlues

I never understood the huge house thing...I'm only 24 and from a different demographic, but I honestly just want a loft or condo between 800-1,000 feet. Am I weird for not wanting a huge space to look after like everybody else?

My favorite all time place was a 700 sf basement apt in Mt. Lebo, of course I was young and single.
When you start living with more people, like say, wife and kids, you tend to want a little more room to get away!

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by TelecasterBlues

I never understood the huge house thing...I'm only 24 and from a different demographic, but I honestly just want a loft or condo between 800-1,000 feet. Am I weird for not wanting a huge space to look after like everybody else?

I'm pretty much exactly the same way. Large houses always 'freaked me out'...I personally only use a very little bit of one.

But, like Copanut just mentioned, once you have a, well, KID in particular. My wife and I were fine in small places. But kids REALLY need space (and things).

During my entire single life, I could more or less carry anything and everything that had any importance to me. Things like TV, couch, chair, I've always felt were disposable. So, being light on owning things, meant immense mobility to make big moves, sense of freedom, etc.

Now that I'm married and with a kid, we just accumulate stuff - especially kids things. I still almost never buy anything for myself, but kids really require a rich learning environment, etc., so my spartan living doesn't fly anymore.

That being said, I still wouldn't personally want a lot of space - just more stuff to watch, worry about, fill up, etc. That being said, the photo of that house with all the windows was pretty cool...

[BrianTH]

As everyone else is noting, space with a kid is a nice luxury. I also personally like a little variety of space in my home, but that is a personal preference.

[fleetiebelle]

I do think it's interesting that a lot of people say they could never live in the city with a family because the houses are so small. You look at all these older, smaller homes and realize dozens of families have probably lived there and raised children just fine. Not being cramped is good, but we 21st century folk have so much stuff and crap that our forebears did without.

My house in Beechview is about 1000 sq ft. The bedrooms are 10 x 10, and I had a hell of a time finding a couch to fit in my living room that wasn't gargantuanly McMansion-sized. I love it, though.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I do think it's interesting that a lot of people say they could never live in the city with a family because the houses are so small. You look at all these older, smaller homes and realize dozens of families have probably lived there and raised children just fine. Not being cramped is good, but we 21st century folk have so much stuff and crap that our forebears did without.

My house in Beechview is about 1000 sq ft. The bedrooms are 10 x 10, and I had a hell of a time finding a couch to fit in my living room that wasn't gargantuanly McMansion-sized. I love it, though.

Even older suburban homes are smaller than what is being built today. Most older suburban homes, particularly pre-1970 or so, have just one bathroom, or they have a full bath and a little "powder room" (sink and commode), unless someone added another one at some time. Many of these older homes have just a one-car garage as well, as most families only had one car at the time.

1000 sq. feet is probably fine for one person, or even two. It's when you get a couple of kids in the house that 1000 sq. ft. doesn't seem like a lot. For four people to each have 1000 sq. feet would require a 4000 sq. ft. house.

[Hopes]

What's amazing is the number of children that were raised in those smaller old houses in the past.

My husband was raised in a very small three bedroom home. He had 5 brothers and sisters. There was a boys room and a girl's room.

His mother was raised in a two bedroom house with 7 brothers and sisters. The attic was the boy's room.

[fleetiebelle]

Whereas nowadays some people find the idea of children sharing a bedroom/bathroom appalling. Heck, back in the day the kids all slept in the same bed.