Since our big newspaper debut, our secret is out. Our double-life is exposed. Coworkers and acquaintances now know what strange, obsessed house enthusiasts we have become. I’m enjoying the attention more than I thought I would ;)

Everyone has been sweetly supportive, congratulating us on taking on our ambition and progress thus far. But many are also wondering why we chose this particular house, in a small town that is about 45 minutes away from where I work. A town so quiet, many people from the area haven’t even heard of it.

There is of course a long-winded answer to this, but the short answer is that we wanted small town life and an affordable old house. Prior to buying the Fixer Upper, we lived in an apartment in East Syracuse and were getting mighty tired of it. The neighborhood was going down hill, fast. Teague and I grew up in quiet little spots, in unique and spacious houses. We always had lawns, and trees, and friendly neighbors. So we were never happy having loud, obnoxious, and downright dangerous neighbors throwing garbage on our lawn and screaming lewd remarks at us from their porch steps.

In the Syracuse area, anything historic, close to the city and in a good neighborhood was out of our price range. So our search expanded past the suburbs to more rural areas, like our pretty little Canal Town, where we found exactly what we were looking for. Despite it’s imperfections (of which there are many), our house called to us from the minute we walked in the door. I remember squeezing Teague’s hand, trying hard to “play it cool” in front of the real-estate agent but knowing that we’d finally found something we both would love.

Over a year later, the commute has lost it’s thrill, but the house has not. I still love turning the corner on my way home and seeing it pop into view. And I grow to love our little town more and more every day. The people are friendly, I can walk the dogs in peace, and there are no street brawls breaking out in front of our house. Enjoying the company of your neighbors and feeling safe in your house is worth a longer commute!

Are there any other Why’s you’re just dying to know? (Like, why I have two of the tiniest dogs in existance, or why Teague’s wearing the same shirt in every photo?)