Old vs. New

We've been in this house for almost three months, and I still find myself comparing our new life with our old one. Some things have stayed the same, but many things are different. And we're loving the changes (mostly).

Old house => New house

 

 

one story => two story

wood siding => stucco

Good changes:

1170 square feet => 2040 square feet

tiny single car port => two-car garage

3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no play space => 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, office, loft

tiny master bathroom and closet => huge bathroom and walk-in closet

no kitchen island => huge kitchen island

no pantry => large pantry

small windows => tons of light

low ceilings, soffits above cabinets => 9-foot ceilings, 2-story living room

no fenced backyard => large yard with block wall

Not-so-good changes:

mailbox in front of house => locked boxes down the street

nice, newer appliances => original crappy appliances 

deep soaking tub in master => shallow builder's grade tub

Old neighborhood => New neighborhood

mining town built in 1875 => just desert & farms until 2000

population: 7,474 => population: 81,321

old, unique houses => HOA communities

Good changes:

closest shopping: old, tiny Safeway => closest shopping: new Super-Walmart

no great school choices => several great schools

few kids in our ward at church => half our ward is under age 12

crumbling sidewalks and steep hills => new sidewalks and no hills

antique stores, ancient ruins, Mexican food => aquatic parks, farms, horses, shopping

only Dairy Queen for ice cream => 2 fro-yo places, 31 Flavors, Cold Stone

Not-so-good changes:

post office, bank & library 3 minutes away => post office and library 15 minutes away

movie theater 3 minutes away => movie theater 20 minutes away

average July temp: 96 => average July temp: 106

Old lives => New lives

Bree's room was also for office/crafts => Bree has a whole room to call her own

Lincoln didn't get to play outside much => we have a safe yard and a park down our block

Mason couldn't access toys during Lincoln's naps => all the boys' toys now live in the loft

Chad was not happy with some aspects of work => Chad really likes his new sergeant and patrol area

I loved my calling as Primary Chorister => I know I'll love my new calling as RS Secretary

home schooling => real school this fall

routines, craziness, excitement, calm => pretty much more of the same