Over the Songkran holiday, we moved in to BaanMae.

At the risk of being philosophical, take a moment to consider the way a piece of land gets building materials assembled on top of it and it becomes a house, and you can spend some time in this house. But then something less tangible gets added and it feels different. Almost like it is imbued with a spirit. And then the word “home” comes to mind for the first time.

We have spent the last few days living here with Praew’s mother. In our spare time, we’ve been adding those touches that make it feel like home. Trash cans in the right place.

A table by the bed to put things on at night.

A mirror over the sink.

A rack to hold soap and shampoo in the shower.

Everything was custom made to Praew’s mother’s wishes. For example she really liked a particular mirror, and she wanted it hung low so that she could sit on a stool while she is washing up in the morning and still see herself. (Or use a wheelchair in the future.) So now I need to sit on a stool to shave in the morning, but hey, it is her house. 🙂

I think it is a wonderful thing to have a house made to one’s individual specifications in as many little ways as you want. Most people who end up owning their own home move into a house built for “an average homebuyer”, and after move in they make small adjustments. But there is a kind of charm to look around and see everything in this little house built a certain way because it made sense for us. (And maybe no one else.)