[beanmaestro]

[quote=njtosd]IMHO, you will regret it. Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. When your kids get older, if you have a yard they can play outside while you get something done inside. If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them, which is less likely.[/quote]

I think it depends on the neighborhood layout, parents’ paranoia index, and kids’ responsibility level. I regularly biked by myself to friends’ houses/parks/playground/school from the time I was 8 or so. If you are inclined to let your kids do that, then a nice park 2 blocks away on quiet streets may be ideal. On the other hand, it varies with the child, and they’re not old enough to know yet.

[beanmaestro]

[quote=njtosd]IMHO, you will regret it. Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. When your kids get older, if you have a yard they can play outside while you get something done inside. If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them, which is less likely.[/quote]

I think it depends on the neighborhood layout, parents’ paranoia index, and kids’ responsibility level. I regularly biked by myself to friends’ houses/parks/playground/school from the time I was 8 or so. If you are inclined to let your kids do that, then a nice park 2 blocks away on quiet streets may be ideal. On the other hand, it varies with the child, and they’re not old enough to know yet.

[beanmaestro]

How hard would it be to convert the sloped area into a cool terraced play area? While a grassy expanse is the typical play area, I’ve seen slopes converted to have really neat layouts.

Or, can you improve the one of the patio areas to make it a dedicated kids’ territory? My wife is lobbying pretty hard for building up more “adventurous” play areas than a grass postage stamp.

[beanmaestro]

How hard would it be to convert the sloped area into a cool terraced play area? While a grassy expanse is the typical play area, I’ve seen slopes converted to have really neat layouts.

Or, can you improve the one of the patio areas to make it a dedicated kids’ territory? My wife is lobbying pretty hard for building up more “adventurous” play areas than a grass postage stamp.

[beanmaestro]

How hard would it be to convert the sloped area into a cool terraced play area? While a grassy expanse is the typical play area, I’ve seen slopes converted to have really neat layouts.

Or, can you improve the one of the patio areas to make it a dedicated kids’ territory? My wife is lobbying pretty hard for building up more “adventurous” play areas than a grass postage stamp.

[beanmaestro]

How hard would it be to convert the sloped area into a cool terraced play area? While a grassy expanse is the typical play area, I’ve seen slopes converted to have really neat layouts.

Or, can you improve the one of the patio areas to make it a dedicated kids’ territory? My wife is lobbying pretty hard for building up more “adventurous” play areas than a grass postage stamp.

[beanmaestro]

How hard would it be to convert the sloped area into a cool terraced play area? While a grassy expanse is the typical play area, I’ve seen slopes converted to have really neat layouts.

Or, can you improve the one of the patio areas to make it a dedicated kids’ territory? My wife is lobbying pretty hard for building up more “adventurous” play areas than a grass postage stamp.

[beanmaestro]

On the financial aid issue, there are several ways around that (grandparents saving, IRA’s, home equity, foreign banks, cash), but some will lose their “invisibility” as the FAFSA evolves. Whole life may or may not be sheltered in 10-15 years…

[beanmaestro]

On the financial aid issue, there are several ways around that (grandparents saving, IRA’s, home equity, foreign banks, cash), but some will lose their “invisibility” as the FAFSA evolves. Whole life may or may not be sheltered in 10-15 years…

[beanmaestro]

On the financial aid issue, there are several ways around that (grandparents saving, IRA’s, home equity, foreign banks, cash), but some will lose their “invisibility” as the FAFSA evolves. Whole life may or may not be sheltered in 10-15 years…

[beanmaestro]

On the financial aid issue, there are several ways around that (grandparents saving, IRA’s, home equity, foreign banks, cash), but some will lose their “invisibility” as the FAFSA evolves. Whole life may or may not be sheltered in 10-15 years…

[beanmaestro]

On the financial aid issue, there are several ways around that (grandparents saving, IRA’s, home equity, foreign banks, cash), but some will lose their “invisibility” as the FAFSA evolves. Whole life may or may not be sheltered in 10-15 years…

[beanmaestro]

Baaack over here on topic, a couple of thoughts from my own experience:

Your husband’s opinion is waaay more important that your family’s. We were in a similar situation a year ago (I was the spouse on the fence, she loved it) and bought the house. The naysayers have long forgotten about their dislike, and my wife thanks me weekly. With kisses.

Regarding the baby and the moving, try to see the timing as a mixed blessing. Fixing it up and moving in will take a month, but then you may never have to move again (moving with a 3-month old won’t be any easier, and could be a lot harder). Pay an extra month of rent at your current place to lower the stress. Enlist friends and family (who are usually looking for ways to help the new mother) to lift and paint. Get your husband to agree that moving into his dream house right now will require him to use his paternity leave. Your job can be to sit in the middle of the scene and direct the volunteers, and no one will begrudge it.

[beanmaestro]

Baaack over here on topic, a couple of thoughts from my own experience:

Your husband’s opinion is waaay more important that your family’s. We were in a similar situation a year ago (I was the spouse on the fence, she loved it) and bought the house. The naysayers have long forgotten about their dislike, and my wife thanks me weekly. With kisses.

Regarding the baby and the moving, try to see the timing as a mixed blessing. Fixing it up and moving in will take a month, but then you may never have to move again (moving with a 3-month old won’t be any easier, and could be a lot harder). Pay an extra month of rent at your current place to lower the stress. Enlist friends and family (who are usually looking for ways to help the new mother) to lift and paint. Get your husband to agree that moving into his dream house right now will require him to use his paternity leave. Your job can be to sit in the middle of the scene and direct the volunteers, and no one will begrudge it.

[beanmaestro]

Baaack over here on topic, a couple of thoughts from my own experience:

Your husband’s opinion is waaay more important that your family’s. We were in a similar situation a year ago (I was the spouse on the fence, she loved it) and bought the house. The naysayers have long forgotten about their dislike, and my wife thanks me weekly. With kisses.

Regarding the baby and the moving, try to see the timing as a mixed blessing. Fixing it up and moving in will take a month, but then you may never have to move again (moving with a 3-month old won’t be any easier, and could be a lot harder). Pay an extra month of rent at your current place to lower the stress. Enlist friends and family (who are usually looking for ways to help the new mother) to lift and paint. Get your husband to agree that moving into his dream house right now will require him to use his paternity leave. Your job can be to sit in the middle of the scene and direct the volunteers, and no one will begrudge it.

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