People and their Spaces
One of my favorite moments of the last week was walking into the new house of my sister’s college roommate and her husband. I met this couple about 10 years ago, when I visited my sister at school, and they were fantastic then, just to hang out with when my sister was in class or at some meeting she had to go to (they remain fantastic now). When I walked into their house for the first time, with my brother-in-law, they weren’t home. Given their personalities, and the contact I’ve had with them over time, I figured the self-tour was well called for. So that’s exactly what I did. Based on how I knew them, I made myself at home immediately. I had absolutely no hesitation. Soon after I realized this (rummaging through the cupboards to put away some dishes to make room for flowers), I came to the conclusion that a home is indeed what you make of it, and it becomes a part of you. Now, if this were the home of a variety of other people, I’d likely sit at the dining room table and allow someone else to take initiative, someone who had explicit verbal direction to make themselves at home (not the implicit instruction I felt on account of their personality). I love this about people and their spaces. I love that I get to fill a friend’s ice trays when I’m over for a party. I love that I know I can grab a glass from the cupboard and help myself – all based on the familiarity and understanding of a person.