Hopefully, a home is a port in a storm

Hopefully, a home is a port in a storm
                        

No house likes to hear the threat of a big storm approaching. A relative who lives in New England has a house facing such a threat: a tropical storm blowing in off the Atlantic. Our relatives are very confident they have made all the necessary precautions to weather the storm, but their house is still worried.

Not only will that poor place have to deal with high winds and heavy rain, but also she lives not far from the ocean, which makes her vulnerable to destructive flooding. Many years ago, another such storm hit that area and knocked a neighboring house right off her foundation. Our relative’s abode has never forgotten that tragedy and has lived in terror of such a thing happening again, especially to her.

Actually, the approaching storm is no longer a huge threat to that area, but all the houses are still very nervous. Houses can’t run or hide from Mother Nature’s fury, so they must learn to withstand her stormy blasts, surviving as best they can.

When builders are conscientious and do a good job, houses are built to last, many for hundreds of years. There are, of course, fires and earthquakes and sudden raging floods that no house can be expected to survive. Fortunately, those events are fairly rare, so most houses can expect to live a long life. If the occupants of those houses are respectful and willing to keep their places in good repair, a house not only lives long, but also lives happily.

That is a blessing for both house and occupants. A happy house is a good place to live, as long as her needs and wants are met. An unhappy house can become an expensive burden to occupants who ignore her demands. Such places have been known to develop leaky roofs, cracked basement walls and even squeaky floors.

We know folks who have lived in the same house for over 30 years. Their place has made several expensive demands over the years, but our friends have met and satisfied those demands. As a result, their house is thankful for their prompt response to her wants and needs and has given them a happy place to call home.


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