Home Is Where The Playground, Office, And Gym Are

Houses are an important part of our lives, especially when it comes to raising a family the right way-- because, without a house, there is no home. This makes the real estate industry one of the biggest and most important industry in America. A house is not just a "home", either, with a welcome mat placed at the front door and various decorations and expensive (or cheap) furniture placed inside. Having a roof over your head and four walls around you means you also have shelter from the storm-- literally and metaphorically, protection from the outside world-- especially when you need a so-called sanctuary in order to get some time alone by going to your own room, and security and stability in times of need-- both financial security and family stability.

In addition, houses are a place to build and store memories. Do you remember what it was like to grow up in your own home? What kind of house did you have? Where did you like to play-- outside in the yard or inside in front of the TV? Houses are also often littered with pictures and souvenirs to remind us of these memories when and if we forget.

Houses are also a place to wake up in, eat in, and go to sleep in, too. However, having a house-- be it an apartment, condo, flat, one-story, two-story, or three-story house, is something that many people might take for granted until they become homeless themselves or encounter other people who are homeless.
We've all seen people who are homeless before. They usually hold signs asking for help, but sometimes I wonder if they ever receive help and recover from the dire circumstances of their lives.

So, stop for a moment and think about what it would be like to be homeless: no fridge or pantry to hold your food, no bed for your body to rest on, no closet to store your clothes, no nothing. And, being homeless means being exposed to the weather: In Texas, you might be burned alive, and in New York, you might freeze to death.

As we live our lives, it;s easy to take having a house and a home for granted-- like many other things that we see as "basic" but really aren't if we take a look at statistics. So, we should always remember how important it is to have not just a house, but a place to truly call home-- with family and security, as well as happiness.
Although houses are often homes (and home is where the heart is), there are also many other things you can do with your house other than decorate it with furniture and memories. Here are just a few:

Do you have kids? Even if you don't, you can build a playground at home. Buy a kiddie pool for yourself or your kids. Fill it up with water and splash around. You can also fill it up with sand and have a fun time building castles or doing some burying-- of both bodies and treasure. Playing at home is a great way to relax, and don't forget about video and computer games if you'd rather play inside.

You can also work at home. Technology like Google and Skype allow you to build a home office easily, and depending on your job, you can even meet clients at home through the web or in person. Having a home office is still a very relevant, very real alternative to commuting long distances and working a desk job all day.

You can also workout at home. Building a home gym isn't as complicated as it sounds, and depending on your budget and space-- its totally possible. You can also just get a yoga mat or some pull up bars. You can also workout outdoors in your backyard.

Jennifer Machie is a writer for Jason McMinn of the McMinn Law Firm.