OT - I must be crazy or I'm a glutten for punishment

Ok, so I bought a house  and have not finished unpacking yet....... yesterday I went to a foreclosure auction found a great deal and bought another house.  Now I have to decide which house I really want to live in and grow old in.  I must be crazy or I'm a gluten for punishment.

House #1
pictures...... picasaweb.google.com/moosie0123/HouseInFlorida
Beautiful (well I think so.....), single story, open, airy, brite, 4 br 3 bath, living room, family room, dining room,  etc etc worth mentioning the master bath in this house is fabulous!  It has a small yard with a small pool (I'm used to have a bigger pool...I love the water...... but figured I'd down size I'm getting older and trying to enjoy live and not create lots of work/maintenance for myself).  It's in a nice quiet community on a culdesac.  It has a nice lanai (not big and not much privacy, but very nice).

What I don't like is it has a VERY small back yard........I can almost reach out and be in my back neighbors lanai.  There is no nice "view", except from one small area to the neighbor on my side..and no privacy.  I recently sold my house on an acre....I like having a nice view to sit and relax.....

House #2 
pictures.... picasaweb.google.com/moosie0123/HouseOnCanal
Very nice, split level, on a canal.  If I lived way up north this would be the perfect "beach type house" to go to to get away from the cold......anyhow.....

Upstairs = Big living room with triple sliders that open to the upper balcony, smaller kitchen with french doors that open to the upper balcony , master bedroom with french doors that open to the upper balcony, master bath, LARGE laundry room, 2 quest bedrooms, 2nd bath, HUGE balcony that goes along the entire length of the house.
Downstairs= garage that is big enough to hold 4 cars with extra room or it can hold boat and trailer.  there is utility sink in the garage, a looooong work bench, lots of cabinets, good sized family room with french doors that open up to the lower patio, finished office, an 'extra' room (will probably use as the gym room), a HUGE walk in closet with dozens of shelves for storage (I'm talking HUGE room),

Both the upper balcony and lower split level patios look out to the canal were there is a private dock and cleaning station if we happen to catch any fish (I do not clean fish!)  (each house has a private dock).

What I don't like about this house is it has no pool (but I'm sure I could add one if I wanted to go to the trouble and expense and I'm not sure if I would or not...maybe.....)

Sooooooo here's my dilemma........I don't want to keep moving, I thought this last one was the last one!..........I want to settle down and plan on eventually retiring and growing old in the house.  Do I want to settle down in a single story house or a split level (only a few steps not bad).  I love having a pool but think I'd much rather enjoy having breakfast on the balcony looking at the water and having dinner outside watching the sunset.

I'd love some input........unbiased outside opinion often helps me see things clearer without the emotions. 

Thanks!
Ruth

Hi Ruth
What a nice dilemma to have!
If I were you, I would choose the smaller house with the pool.  It's just one storey, so that would be good as you get older.  I bought a one storey recently and I m glad that I did. The smaller house has a pool that is smaller than others you've had, but how much pool do you need and how much pool do you want to keep clean?  The same goes for the four car garage  -  good God, how many cars do you need? 
I think the smaller the better, at least for me.  I am 58 and I am getting rid of as much stuff as I can so that I am focused more on life, friends and family and not so much on material things.  It is very freeing to do this!  Less cleaning, less storage, less eyesore, etc.  Halleluah!
So, I've added my two Canadian cents, which is about 1.6 cents in your money  -  lol.
I wish you the best of luck in making your choice.
Margaret

well house #2 is so beautif ul and it would be hard to not want to live in it. but it is so big , you are by yourself? what in the world does one person want to live in a house that big.... House #1 would be my choice i would say because of the pool and being able to keep limber in said pool.
.make something pretty to look at with landscaping when you are on the patio.   maybe a pooless waterfall if you dont have enough room to make the pond....i could come up with lots of ideas to make something pretty to look at and cover the fact of back of other houses.  

I'd definately go with House #1.  I've lived in a colonial for the past 26 years, and my sister had a tri level and both of us agree, no more stairs- no matter how many.
If I were younger I'd go with the split level.  It does have a beautiful view, but do you really want the stairs?  A view is nice, but for future comfort I's say stick to one level.
We've got a two bedroom place up north that we're planning to retire to, as soon as we sell this colonial we're in.  I can't wait to downsize.  I don't want to clean house all day anymore (not that I ever did!)
I think I'd rather clean a small house and then swim in a small pool, than work on the house.
Just a lazy person's opinion.
Jan

I like the way you put it........better to clean a small house and swim in a small pool.....so true!!   Not being lazy just being wise!

house one because of getting old and stairs. vick

oh i love the views of #2
do you entertain? have large parties? overnite guests?

i personally think house #2 would mean that you would have to go out and buy furniture-after all-you just downsized?!

my vote would be for #1 as i am aging-but i am in a downsize state of my life right now----and the pool idea is great- as jan suggested- you could plant or something to cover the neighbor's "view"...

jmho....

I love to entertain and once I settle down (in either house) the visitors will start......  I normally have a fairly steady stream of company and the nieces always love to stay over.  My great-niece, who was born on my birthday :-), love to spend time with me and LOVES to swim and play in the pool just like me.....I can't wait for her to come visit. 

Just yesterday I made plans with a good friend and her daughter to come visit/stay for Thanksgiving week.  I'm working on plans for my dearest friend and her 2 daughters to come during their winter recess this Dec.

These reasons also are why I lean towards house #1....the pool.....kids love the pool - hey I love the pool!  It may be smaller than what I used to have but it is still wet and refreshing.  In the cooler winter months the solar heater will hopefully warm it enough that it can be used...

I already have an appointment with a landscaper to come give me ideas for along the back, and have had some fence companies give me a price to put up a privacy fence. 

Thanks for the input!!

Ruth, I vote for house #1 for the reason it is smaller but if it was me and my hubby we both would want a smaller house since we aren't getting any younger. I don't want to tied down to a house that needs more housework than I am willing or able for that matter to do. As we get older we want to spend more time doing what we want to do. And house 1 has the pool which is nice. House 2 is just to much house if you ask me. Yeah the view is nice and the thing is roomy but all the windows to see the view and all the roomy rooms need to be cleaned...ick!

Hi Brenda,
LOL - I hate doing windows! 

You are right about having time to do what you want.  When I do eventually retire I want to be free to do whatever.......  The sunset will look nice from my street level lanai too if I decide to give up the beautiful balcony view.

Hope you are feeling better!!