Yep very nice posts. I wanted for my kids not to change school districts more so than houses, but that kind of goes hand in hand. So far so good.

We have a 2280 sqft house and a second smaller house + garage, which is nice. The yard is huge and that is what matters most to the kids and me. We have chickens, 2 large dogs, Trampoline, BMX track, serious tree fort, they can fly kites and large airplanes, or even shoot targets. They could have a batting cage or hard court, if they were to get serious about a sport. They can walk to a lake to fish. The kids had their first sleepover a week ago…nice that the kids had space to play and could camp outside and have a fire for marshmallows.

My wife also prefers a smaller house, but doesn’t mind ours since we can handle stay over guests well enough.

2 boys in 1 BR and one has his own. Extra BR is my office which is really nice to have. I wish my office had a door directly to the yard and may do something about that.

MIL may come to live with us in a few years, so that would change things a bit. I think she will be too disabled to live in the second house alone. I will be very glad that the main house is at least as big as it is . Maybe put a bath in the second largest bedroom or bootleg a studio apt into the family room which has a private access. No need to add on. Maybe this is something for some people to consider?