So, you see those listings. Everywhere. "3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage For Sale!" It's the real estate anthem, isn't it?
Here's my unpopular opinion: Is that really the dream?
I mean, it sounds good. "Responsible." "Adulting." But let's break it down, shall we?
The Three Bedrooms: A Room for…What, Exactly?
Bedroom number one: Yours. Okay, makes sense. Unless you're like me and spend 80% of your waking hours on the couch. But that's another story.
Bedroom number two: The "guest room." Which, let's be honest, is usually a storage unit in disguise. Filled with that treadmill you swore you'd use and boxes of memories you're too sentimental to throw away. Anyone else relate?
Bedroom number three: The office! Or maybe a craft room! Or a yoga studio! In reality, it's probably another storage unit, but with slightly different boxes. Perhaps containing the slightly less embarrassing forgotten hobbies. We all have them. Don't judge.
Maybe you have kids. That’s different. Sort of. Eventually, they just fill it with toys and clothes you threaten to donate every other Tuesday. It becomes a colorful vortex of chaos. Embrace it.
My point is, do we really *need* all that space? Or are we just conditioned to think we do?
Two Bathrooms: A Tale of Two Toilets
Two bathrooms! Sounds luxurious. No more fighting over the shower! But realistically, one bathroom is usually immaculate. The "guest bathroom." Untouched. A pristine shrine to cleanliness. You almost need permission to even *think* about using it.
The other bathroom? Well, that's the one where life happens. Toothpaste splatters. Mysterious stains. The shower curtain that’s perpetually slightly damp. You know the one.
And then the cleaning! Twice the toilets to scrub. Twice the mirrors to wipe. Twice the opportunities to find rogue hairs. Is it worth it? I'm not so sure.
Maybe, and I'm just throwing this out there, one really, really amazing bathroom is better than two mediocre ones?
The Two-Car Garage: Home for Your Cars…and Everything Else
Ah, the two-car garage. The American dream...that quickly becomes a dumping ground for everything that doesn't fit inside the house.
One side is for the car, theoretically. The other side? Bikes with flat tires, holiday decorations, power tools you used once, and that project you swore you'd finish "someday." It's a monument to good intentions gone awry.
And let’s be real, half the time, you can't even park both cars in there because you're afraid of dinging the doors. So, they sit in the driveway. The garage becomes a glorified storage shed with a fancy door.
I’ve seen garages that were nicer than some apartments. It’s wild. Like a whole other world of forgotten treasures and half-finished renovations. And spiders. So many spiders.
Is it just me, or is a single-car garage and a well-organized shed a more practical solution? Think about it.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the "3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage" isn't a perfectly fine aspiration. For some people. Perfect.
But maybe, just maybe, we should question the default setting. Consider our actual needs versus the societal pressure to accumulate space. Maybe a tiny house in the woods is calling your name. Or a loft apartment downtown. Or a renovated van! Anything but another guest bedroom filled with old gym equipment.
Think outside the "3/2/2" box. Your happiness might depend on it.
Or, you know, just get a really good cleaning service. That works too.
