A House or Home?

我知道我的部落格可能已經長草了，不過我其實是一直想找個時間來更新的。回到台灣六個星期了，從開始騎車左右不分到現在終於漸漸習慣台灣的生活了，這幾個星期一直忙於工作的準備與尋找落角的地方，終於，上個星期搬回我最愛的東海了，終於稍為感覺安頓下來，因為漂泊了兩年，在世界繞阿繞，總想有個自己的小天地，可以一個人靜一靜，兩個汽車的廣告說的很好:[小的時候總想要快點長大，沒有人管我，長大後卻又希望回到小時候，可以不用管別人][小的時候，總希望趕快長大可以離開家去走走，長大後卻總是希望有時間可以回家坐坐]

Anyway, I've always meant to add the below lovely poem from an Ikea ad about what it really means to have a place of your own, a timely reminder about what's really important in all the talk about the housing market doom and gloom these days...
Do you live in a house or a home?Are you in it for the money or the love?Do you think you'll be happy when you move?Or are you happy now?
Does it give you financial security or emotional warmth?Does it make you feel like you're getting somewhere?Or does it make you feel like you're there now?
If it could talk, could it tell anyonewhat your favourite colour is?
When your little boy draws a plane on the wall, do you reach for the paint rolleror grab another crayon and draw a rocket?
Is it perfect?Or is it real, and still perfect?
Do you keep it as empty as possible to create space,or do you fill it withall the people and things you enjoy the most?
Do you look in estate agent's windows?Or do you look in your own window and think 'how lovely'?Are you constantly monitoring its price?Or are you measuring its occupants' heights on the back of the bathroom door?
What's the most important thing you put into it,two-fifths of your salary,or your life and soul?
What's the most important thing you'll get out?A profit?Or a treasure trove of memories that'll never, ever go down in value but always up.
It's not too late.
A house can always become a home.Love, not money.That's what gives a home a soul.
And a home's soul is NOT FOR SALE.
Btw, I also heartily agree with Ikea's motto: "Home is the most important place in the world."