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Home Nostalgia
Jul. 3rd, 2016 11:17 pmThis morning, I walked by my old house at 222 Berkeley Street. I had no particular reason aside from curiousity about what it looks like and how the neighbourhood has changed.
In fact, the entire neighbourhood is largely the same: the same convenience store is around the corner, albeit updated. The townhouses and homes are largely unchanged, with some minor changes in the flower beds & lawns.
My former house has changed a quite a bit. The silver maple the city planted in our front lawn has grown considerably in 20 years. The small front lawn is now beautifully landscaped. The gate we installed to the side alley is unchanged; the stone front steps are also still there.
I could see there were new windows installed; it's something John and I had considered when we were living there. I'm particularly delighted the windows in the stairwell (the small windows above the front door) all can open: the prior ones were sealed units. The front door has been replaced too.
I miss that house. It was my last address in Canada, and the only property there I owned rather than rented. When we bought it in June, 1992, we repainted the ceiling & walls, replaced the carpeting, laid down a hardwood floor in the living room & dining area, installed ceiling fans in the bedrooms and remodeled both bathrooms. In effect, I came to love that home as our own creation in a way that I hadn't with prior rental apartments.
As much as I loved it and apparently still have strong feelings for 222 Berkeley, it lacks some things I've decided I want in future residences. The townhouse had baseboard electric heaing; I love having forced-air gas heating. The townhouse had no central air conditioning, just window AC units and fans (the 3rd floor office was unbearable in summer); I love our central AC. For all its flows though, what a location!
I'd move back to Toronto in a flash if I could, although the guys would object --or rather, a house that met all of our needs would exceed our resources. There are so many other practical considerations that it's not a realistic idea, but one can dream.
In fact, the entire neighbourhood is largely the same: the same convenience store is around the corner, albeit updated. The townhouses and homes are largely unchanged, with some minor changes in the flower beds & lawns.
My former house has changed a quite a bit. The silver maple the city planted in our front lawn has grown considerably in 20 years. The small front lawn is now beautifully landscaped. The gate we installed to the side alley is unchanged; the stone front steps are also still there.
I could see there were new windows installed; it's something John and I had considered when we were living there. I'm particularly delighted the windows in the stairwell (the small windows above the front door) all can open: the prior ones were sealed units. The front door has been replaced too.
I miss that house. It was my last address in Canada, and the only property there I owned rather than rented. When we bought it in June, 1992, we repainted the ceiling & walls, replaced the carpeting, laid down a hardwood floor in the living room & dining area, installed ceiling fans in the bedrooms and remodeled both bathrooms. In effect, I came to love that home as our own creation in a way that I hadn't with prior rental apartments.
As much as I loved it and apparently still have strong feelings for 222 Berkeley, it lacks some things I've decided I want in future residences. The townhouse had baseboard electric heaing; I love having forced-air gas heating. The townhouse had no central air conditioning, just window AC units and fans (the 3rd floor office was unbearable in summer); I love our central AC. For all its flows though, what a location!
I'd move back to Toronto in a flash if I could, although the guys would object --or rather, a house that met all of our needs would exceed our resources. There are so many other practical considerations that it's not a realistic idea, but one can dream.
