What makes a house into a “home”?

Growing up, I didn’t have a great time at home.

That’s not to say it was all bad, but being in my house with Ed wasn’t a situation I enjoyed.

So I spent a lot of time at my friends’ houses. When I was young, it was my buddy, Brickey. Then, as I got older, at Donut’s house.

The number one thing they had that I didn’t was siblings.

Being an only child was less than ideal. Especially with Ed around.

My friends had sisters and I derived much enjoyment from watching that dynamic.

The other things that my friends had at their house was a certain level of mess.

Not that my house was perfectly clean, but they always had stuff everywhere. Clothes, food, dishes, people, animals, knick-knacks, etc. Things I didn’t have.

And because there was usually a LOT more kids at these places, the expectations for cleanliness were much lower than at my house.

A recent survey asked people what made a house into a home, and “clutter” didn’t make the top ten.

Surprising.

Top five are: a fridge full of food, the memories you’ve made there(DUH), having your own spot on the couch, family photos, and a good bed.

You can see the full list along with some other answers to the survey here.