Childfree Folks - How do YOU Utilize Those Extra Rooms?

[Dem Agog]

This thread got me thinking:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=729244&mesg_id=729244

Apparently since we childfree folk aren't popping out babies we're causing heartburn with the extra room we take up in nice houses. Still, one person pointed out that they utilize almost all the rooms in their house. I know we do in ours too. It's true, people expand their stuff to fill out their homes.

We've got a HUGE house, but it's the smallest house in the neighborhood at only 3900 square feet (or so they told us when we bought it, I can't believe it's not more than 4000 sf!)... Still, it's a 5 bedroom, 4 bath home with several "spare" rooms. Here's how ours breaks down:

- Master Bedroom & Bath used (of course)
- Spare Bedroom #1, futon for sleepovers, television, ironing and an exercise bike (for me)
- Spare Bedroom #2, total storage room, but also has a bed for guests
- Spare Bedroom #3, bed for guests, also the sewing room and the "grow room" for plants, seedlings
- Spare Bedroom #4, my office
- Living Room - converted to my husband's office
- 3rd level "bonus" room is our home theater
- "Quasi-Bedroom" off the bonus room is our workout room

People joke (and it's true) that we can spend the whole weekend without leaving our house, but it's kind of nice. So how do you people without kidlets in the rooms fill up your homes?

[MadMaddie]

1. Dog beds in every room along with dog toys...

Computer/reading room....

Still live in an apartment but hope to purchase a home by the end of the year?

[xultar]

10. End that last sentence in your post with an ! Don't question, you will

be in a house by the end of the year! :woohoo:

[MadMaddie]

13. Thanks for the positive support...

You are right, "I will be in a house by the end of the year"!!!!
:hi:

[xultar]

24. There ya go!

:woohoo:

[MissB]

2. I have some childfree friends

One couple in particular have lots of money to spare, so they have a very fine home with 4 bedrooms. They have their master bedroom and a guest bedroom and then the other bedrooms are for their kitties. The kitties live quite well.

In the room that I would have as a craft room, they have a doggie wash room.

I guess you could argue that their pets are their children.

[htuttle]

3. Extra storage at first, but then we just got a smaller apartment

In addition, the smaller apartment now tends to dissuade the youngins from wanting to move back in!

on edit:
Oh, you were talking about people who NEVER had kids, not ones that finally got their kids to move out.

Nevermind...

[Left Is Write]

88. LOL!

My parents actually have a bigger house now than when they were raising their children.

[CountAllVotes]

4. I live in a small house

900 sq. feet with a one-car attached garage. No room for anyone else.

It is also a lot cheaper to live in, low power bills, etc. Who needs a huge house, especially if you have no kids? I for one don't want one. If I had one, I'd sell it to be honest with you and get something smaller and cheaper to live in and hence maintain.

If you don't want to sell it, why not rent out the rooms?

:shrug:

:kick:

[nonconformist]

5. Are you bragging about your wealth?

Not to be contrary, but WTF?

[uppityperson]

11. I don't get it either.

To answer, I will soon be a child free home. The only extra room is kids old room, which will stay open for them, used as guest room also. I would not want extra rooms, don't like cleaning and paying the extra taxes. IF I bought a house with extra rooms, would have 1 for an office/project room. Might foster kids, or rent out the others, not fill them full of stuff since I am trying to not have stuff.

[Dem Agog]

14. ...

We're not really exceedingly wealthy. We save lots, invest well, and bought in a nice neighborhood.

I think a lot of people who complain about childfree people "driving up prices" are simply flat out jealous that we made a decision that allows us to live very nicely on an average income.

If that's what you mean by "bragging" then yes I am bragging that I love my life, and I live well without having to be rich. Am I wealthy? I'm sure I make much less than several families here with four or five kids running around, but we live very well, because we've chosen a lifestyle that didn't involve having kids.

If that induces sour grapes in you or anyone else, then that's too bad.

[nonconformist]

18. Who are the people complaining about that?

I think that YOU are the one with sour grapes.

Enjoy your ecological footprint.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[nonconformist]

55. I don't consider it a "sin"

But apparently, "breeders spewing out babies" are in your book.

You were a child once too, you know. You don't have to defend your lifestyle here, and you certainly don't need to offend people to defend it. I don't care how you live... I hope you live well, just as I hope everyone can.

[Name removed]

Deleted message

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[nonconformist]

72. Are you even READING my posts?

I'm not fucking jealous of you. Talk about an "old line". I have a nice home too, I just don't have any desire to brag about it to make myself seem superior to others.

I'm as "dumb as a Republican"?

It just seems that you have something against people that have children, and YES, it does bear mentioning that you were once a child too.. why the animosity? I DON'T HAVE ANY ANIMOSITY FOR YOU for the way you have chosen to live your life. I do find it "tacky" that you feel the need to brag about it and broadly and harshly insult anyone who thinks it was tacky to brag about it - HERE, where nobody will give you shit for not having kids.

[JuniperLea]

97. I hope your momma doesn't see that post

n/t

[xultar]

34. WTF... so how does my carbon footprint have to do with anything?

I don't consume any more gas or electricity than I did when I was in an apartment. Furthermore my 1 bedroom apartment cost just as much as my morgage and I own the shit.

Awww I get it. So I bet now we are some Rethuglican Dinos or some shit. We're the enemy now. Ahhhh I get it.

[nonconformist]

41. No.

That's not what I said, and you are putting words into my mouth.

I just see no benefit in bragging about all of the extra space and electronics one has, especially in these times. It's... tacky... for lack of a better word.

And reading the OP's responses, I would guess that the "breeders" are the enemy.

[xultar]

48. Well no kids. I put out and use less than all the other households in

my community. Plus I travel 4 to 5 days a week.

I love my life. I'm not even having kids. I'm adopting and I'm hearing that a lot of other singles are doing so as well. I'm just happy to hear that I'm not a freak. My parents want me to get out and find a man and breed and shit. I just don't feel like it and I'm glad that there are others who don't either.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Left Is Write]

67. Are you sure all the stay-at-home mommies in your neighborhood

are Republicans? Are you sure they're living their lives based on someone else's script?

BTW, I have no problem with what house you have or how you choose to use it. Your personal decisions about home and lifestyle are none of my business. But even people with kids have been known to spend Friday nights watching a nice movie, fixing a great dinner, drinking wine, and enjoying a nice life. :)

[Dem Agog]

70. Yes I am sure...

They are Republicans and very overt about it... It's kind of sickening. At least the ones who abut my home and live in the cul-de-sac are...

We bought in this neighborhood because it's a great investment. Best neighborhood in the city, and high resale values. But with that comes this "untouchable nouveau riche" paranoia from the highly-Republican folks who live here. It's a bit creepy.

And yes, people with kids can have a nice night too, not saying they can't. :)

[Left Is Write]

76. I ask this because....

I live in a conservative area in a conservative state. I fit the stereotype in many ways - I'm a fortyish minivan-driving stay-home mother in what is considered a nice neighborhood - and I am quite sure that many of my neighbors and acquaintances assume I am a conservative Republican. I have a close friend whose kids are the same ages as my two little ones, and when we first met, we each suspected the other of being conservatives at best and Bush supporters at worst. Fortunately, we were both wrong. We're minorities here, though, that's certain.

[Dem Agog]

80. I understand!

I can't tell you how relieved I am when I find that the "stereotypes" I meet aren't Republican! That did happen at work the other day. A woman with her two kids who is a fantastic coworker was talking about going to DC and she lowered her voice in the cube farm we work in and said, "We're not Republicans I know you're not supposed to say that, but my husband won't go because he says he doesn't want to visit the White House while it stinks like that!"

It's nice to see little eddies of sanity in the big red pool of Republicanism that is the south... If you lived nearby, I'd love hanging out with you. Alas, the neighbors, they're just all very Republican and highly proud of it too... Bush stickers are the norm here... Gack!

[JuniperLea]

98. You know...

If you don't want people to call you names for not having kids, then perhaps you should practice what you preach and stop calling those of us with kids "breeders".

[MissB]

52. People with babies

end up stomping out a fairly large footprint by diapering their babies in disposables. Even the alternatives- like cloth- come with a tradeoff.

I really can't get up in arms about ecological footprints of childfree versus parents.

[TX-RAT]

69. If you think their foot print is to big

You damn sure won't like mine. My place covers a total of 3 square miles.
Sure makes the house look small.

[xultar]

28. There was a post last night about childess singles driving up home

costs and people were angry in a local paper.

I don't think it is bragging. It makes me feel good that I'm not a freak. I was beginning to think that I was. I'm the only single in my neighborhood and everyone here thinks I'm a weirdo or something. That I'm not married with 3 cats and 3 dogs.

[nonconformist]

47. I saw the post, but it was hearsay

I'm not arguing the validity of the post, but I haven't seen anyone on DU express that sentiment.

I don't think you are a "freak" or a "weirdo", and I don't think that I am one either.

[Left Is Write]

71. I'm not sure I understand the correlation.

Somebody is going to buy those houses; I'm not sure it matters to home prices WHO buys them. Are people trying to say that singles and/or childfree couples buying "family" homes are creating a shortage of such homes for larger families? That doesn't make any sense.

[Dem Agog]

75. That's exactly what they're saying..

The article I quoted in the original post was talking about complaints that childfree people are driving up home prices -- implying that's a bad thing. We should live in little tiny homes with no extra rooms!

So when I read that and how people are utilizing their space, I decided to post about it... because you're right somebody would live here, whether it was myself, my husband and our two pets, or a family with four kids... And when it comes down to it, we're using less energy and resources than any big family that lived here!

But I have read recently, on CNN Money, I believe, that there are concerns that awful people like us are driving up housing prices by buying nice homes. God forbid! And you can see the bigotry even here at DU! I posted about how we utilize our spacious home and I get tons of hate thrown at me, and people saying I'm bragging about my income.

We make a fair income, but we're not rich. Still, it doesn't matter. Childfree people are the scum of the earth, even here among the "liberal" "open-minded" people of DU. Some people say fat people are the last accepted stereotype to bash. I think childfree people will be the last accepted stereotype to bash.

[nonconformist]

78. Nobody bashed you for your choice to not have children

Like playing the victim much?

All anyone said is that it seemed tacky to post and brag about how much space and goodies you have, and then constantly insult people who do have children and claim that they're jealous. Especially HERE, where nobody would bash you for your choice to not have children.

[Dem Agog]

82. Oh you're cute...

I asked what CF people do with their space. I wasn't trying to brag, but if you want I could unleash a little more.

Would you like to see a picture of our boat?

And by the way you're flat out wrong, people here are bashing because they're jealous and because we aren't following the script that you were all handed and decided you had to follow. It's hard to admit you're prejudiced, but really the first step is acknowleding you have a problem, my highly conformist, "nonconformist" friend...

You're kind of funny, especially with your ridiculous, completely inaccurate name!

[Left Is Write]

84. Their argument makes no sense.

I live in a rapidly growing area, and there's certainly no shortage of large, single-family homes around here. New subdivisions seem to be popping up daily. Singles and childfree couples aren't driving up home prices. Home prices rise due to a number of factors, including economy, industry, location, school system, etc. Certainly supply and demand plays a role, but "blaming" one segment of the population for higher prices is ridiculous.

[tandot]

6. We can't afford to rent more than a 2-bedroom duplex about 800 sf

We both have a master's degree but can't afford to buy a house here in the Sacramento area. We share our space with a dog and a cat.

Our "spare" second room is used as an office, guest room, and storage.

:shrug:

[CountAllVotes]

15. my "spare" 2nd room is used as a bedroom

I have beds in both rooms, one for me and one for my husband (I have a severe sleep disorder, hence the need for a 2nd room and he has problems too). My two cats share the room with him for the most part. My own bedroom is very small and just big enough for a double bed and a small nightstand and bookcase/computer.

I wish the rooms were bigger but I like the low power/maintenance bills and the fact that there isn't nearly as much to clean either.

I grew up in a large home with 5 other family members. It was a big job cleaning that house - a job I did for $1 a week. Fun days those were! I don't miss that at all and I never wanted a big house.

:kick:

[xultar]

37. Come to Atlanta. You can get a nice pad with a mortgage payment

@ rent levels for CA and NY.

[tandot]

58. We just moved from TX/OK to CA to be closer to family

and to finally find the jobs we both wanted and went to school for. We also love being so close to San Fransisco and Reno (both just about 1 1/2 hours away from us). And, of course, we love visiting all the wineries, the giant redwoods, and Lake Tahoe.

We rented a 4 bedroom house with a huge backyard on the TX/OK border for $450/month before we moved to CA. A house that costs $400,000 here in CA would cost about $100,000 there.

But thanks for the tip, Xultar. Enjoy your house and all the things those stupid Rethugs don't want you do have.

[xultar]

99. I love your Chihuahua avatar. I am enjoying my Chihuahuas

despite the republicans and my Chihuahuas are Liberal and campaign against the rethuglican bastards!

[dave29]

7. Converted them into garages for my Hummers

... what?

Why is everyone looking at me like that?

[nonconformist]

8. LOL! nt

[Dogmudgeon]

Multiple orgy rooms, baby!

Yes, being a Swinging Bachelor, I have multiple orgy rooms, and I'm never dating any fewer than three Stewardesses at a time, as well as ice skaters, exotic dancers, sex therapists, and porn stars -- and all of them are dynamite chicks under the age of 30, their vital statistics averaging 36-24-36.

How's that for a 70s Moment™?

Pay no attention to the monkeys flying out of my ass ...

--p!
It's all true!
Well, some of it is, anyway.
Mainly, the part about the monkeys.

[Nickster]

12. Yeah Baby.......Giggity,Giggity, GOOO!

[xultar]

40. Quaggy. A man after my own heart.

[xultar]

9. Let me see....it is just me

Master suite filled with me and my stuff....and my office
Spare Bedroom #1 Sort of a suite with its own access to a bath is a guest suite
Spare Bedroom #2 Storage room
Spare Bedroom #3 Cat room
Office = Formal office suite with bath
Living room as Living room - Furnished but never used
Dining Room as Dining room - Furnished but never used
Family Room only use when people are over
Basement as storage until I'm willing to put in the 50k to have it finished off with a couple of bedrooms, entertainment room, office and dark room.

DAMN STRAIGHT. I love my place and I can go an entire 2 weeks without leaving the house. I LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

[SmokingJacket]

16. Sheesh. My house is 1100 sq feet...

AND I have two kids, a husband, a home office, a piano, a spinning wheel, several guitars, violins, and a few thousand books.

Needless to say, no home theater. :eyes:

[CountAllVotes]

21. yep it is tight space here too

just the two of us and the two cats and we really need to do a major go through the house, collect everything you don't need or use and donate it to the local family shelter. We are busting at the seams with 900 sq. feet, believe me!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

39. Our condo is a little over 600, maybe.

We unloaded everything even my library. :scared:

But, after the shock, I really like living as simply as possible. A patch of land would be nice but I'm learning how to garden in containers. Don't know what we'd do with a big house any more. :)

[Coexist]

43. *gasp*

you gave up your BOOKS?!

Oh my - that would be very hard for me. And I don't have any rare editions or anything - I just love to re-read the good stuff.

Not that I have a 'library' - just some shelves.

[EFerrari]

53. I did! It was terrifying! But I found out that I mostly

needed a very few reference books and everything else is on line.

I DID NOT GIVE UP MY CONCORDANCE TO SHAKESPEARE OR MY BIG FAT POETRY NORTON.

And now, we trade friends for books and trade them back out or buy them used and give them away.

I feel about 350 lbs lighter. :wow:

[Autumn Colors]

17. 3900 sq ft?

Are you crazy? What a waste of money and space (and energy to heat or cool) for only two people.

We have 1500 sq ft house. It has 2 bedrooms. The second bedroom is the office for my business. I'm a full-time self-employed medical transcriptionist. That's the only spare room in this house.

Sorry to disappoint.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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[SammyWinstonJack]

31. !

:evilgrin:

[xultar]

44. AMEN!!!! BRUVA!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

19. I have a huge Victorian from 1858. I've been restoring it for the past

decade. My parlor is the storage room with something like 30 gallons of paint, stain, varnish, etc. and wood moldings and tile. I only have 3 bedrooms, but each is large with their own private baths, walk-in closets (about 8 by 12 feet) and sitting areas. One is for me. One is for guests, but I have my sewing 'room' in its sitting area. One was my son's and now serves as the computer room/office.
I have a large country kitchen, a dining room that will sit at least a dozen, a library, filled with books, a den/family room with TV. No, I don't use the 'front' rooms very much as I tend to live in my kitchen. But it's my dream to finish the restoration and my money.

[xultar]

35. Ahhh I bet it is beautiful!!!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. Sounds wonderful. nt

[lukasahero]

60. It sounds lovely.

We have been doing most of the work in our house too - which accounts for why half of my basement is now a rather well supplied workshop. ;) The other half is part TV room/ part growing shed.

We have three bedrooms too - two bedroom houses around here have a lousy re-sale value (yeah, sue me, we thought of the investment) The two extra of which get used by visiting nephews and other family and friends.

Dining room - not used too much admittedly except for dinner with friends and holiday parties - come to think of it, it gets used pretty often.
Living room - see dining room.
Office - two software consultants - office is well used - trying to figure out what room to convert into a library to hold the book overflow.
Sunroom is an extension of the kitchen... 2 bathrooms both get used.

Finally, we have an unfinished upstairs that someday will probably be made into an in-law apartment so we can offer my folks a home if/when one nof them passes away.

(Gee, I sure hope that meets everybody's approval. :P )

[Left Is Write]

87. I would love to have a library...

It would have ceiling-to-floor bookshelves, all full, a fireplace, comfortable reading chairs, lots of lamps, and a big basket of quilts and throws to snuggle under while reading.

[nonconformist]

96. I ADORE old houses

My dream is to fix up an old Victorian or Craftsman.

My house was built in 1973, older but not an "old house". We've been in total remodel mode and living in a construction zone for months now.

[Ariana Celeste]

22. Well,

we have a 2 bedroom apt. So only one extra bedroom. But, it's used for storing off season clothing, electronic parts, random crap, and has a bed in case anyone might need it (though my friends would argue that my couch is much more comfortable, lol).
We've also had roommates in the past that used the 2nd bedroom- never going there again.

Doubt we will ever have a kid, I don't really want to and neither does he, but regardless someday we will move into a 2 bedroom house hopefully with a basement. It's nice to have some extra room.

[maveric]

23. One is an abortion clinic. The other is used to turn kids Gay.

I wish I had another one. It would be used to house and find jobs for the illegal aliens I pick up at the border.

[Nickster]

32. LoL....thanks, I needed a good laugh and the excellent ideas for my spare

rooms!

[Coexist]

45. best. response. today.

[TalkingDog]

26. Lessee....

Spare bedroom 1 is the guest and computer room. Hubby has a small black and white TV in here so he can watch sports, web surf and do graphics. I use the closet for shirts and pants.

Spare bedroom 2 is my studio. I have a 19 inch color TV and DVD player in that room. Dog beds, which double as nap space for me and Mr. Spot and the closet is for my dresses, formal stuff, yoga wear and coats.

We have a small building (2 rooms) which has paintings, art supplies, storage stuff, canning supplies and canned goods.

We hope to build me a studio in the next couple of years which will free up Spare bedroom 2 to be a Library/Media room. Our books are now currently housed in various bookshelves throughout the house.

And we are still constantly trying to rid ourselves of stuff...a studio will definitely help unclutter the house which is only about 1100 sq. ft.

[Clark2008]

27. This "childfree" terminology sounds so 1984.

What was so wrong with "couples without children"?

Childfree sounds - erm - spooky. (Not the act of being without children, just the terminology).

[Dem Agog]

30. Childfree vs Childless...

The media likes to call us "childless" which implies we're missing something.

People don't use a phrase as long as "couples without children".

Childfree people prefer the term, because well - we're not missing anything... We like a life without children.

But given the other criticisms heaped on me in this thread by people who, no matter how liberal and "open minded" still can't grok the idea of a couple living happily and well without breeding, I'm not surprised to hear the very word I used criticized as well.

Figures.

[Clark2008]

46. Well, childless sounds 1984, too.

Do you need a term?

PS. If you'll notice, I wasn't saying you couldn't be happy as a couple without children, I was just questioning the terminology. It seems we get so wrapped up in language.

[Bridget Burke]

49. "Childfree" is dated but still correct. "Breeders" is damned rude.

I don't have children, either, but nobody persecutes me about it.

Do you live in a fine, old restored house--or a mini-mansion?

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

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[nonconformist]

79. You've heard those comments here on DU?

Links, please.

[Dem Agog]

89. I never stated I had...

Those are the comments people with children have said to my face on a daily basis since I was as young as 16. (The Christian women comment came from a boyfriend's mother...)

Still, DU has shown enough bigotry about CF people in this thread alone. Some people have a real problem with the fact that every bedroom we own isn't filled with a child, and they've said as much right here, so just read the threads.

I'm not bragging about income, as some of these bigots say. I'm saying we have an average income but because we live in a reasonable market and don't have babies we can have home theaters and exercise rooms.

Here at "liberal" DU, it's okay to hate us for that. So if you want to join the list who do, hop on board. I don't care.

[nonconformist]

92. Ok, in an attempt to calm the situation here....

I will explain my points and hope that you will read them. I don't like arguing with fellow DU'ers, especially when it's based on a misunderstanding.

I honestly have absolutely nothing against anyone who chooses not to have a child. Nothing at all. In fact, I think that if someone is sure they don't want children it is the absolute best choice for them. I strongly believe in personal choice. Everyone should live the lifestyle that makes them happy, period.

The reason I complained was that I felt that your OP was, in essence, simply bragging. It seemed kinda tacky and out of left field. I apologise if that is not how you meant it to come off. My reasoning was that because nobody here on DU has been criticizing the choice to not have children, and the only thing I saw that would prompt your OP was a heresy thread.

Things escalated because attacks started - "you're jealous", "breeders", etc. I understand that there have been some people in your life that have given you shit for not having children. I think that is horrible. But I'm not one of them. I respect your lifestyle, and I expect respect for my lifestyle too. Yes I do have two children who I am raising to be compassionate, thoughtful democrats of the future. That doesn't make me better than you, just as your choice to not have children doesn't make you better than me. I just makes us individuals who made their own decisions, that's all.

I have a nice home, 1700 square feet which is plenty for my family of 4 plus one (soon to be two!) cats. I admit I do have a bit of bias towards the "McMansion" mentality in general, but children play no role in that opinion. For example, I know of someone who is currently doing a 100k+ remodel of their kitchen. They do have children, but NEVER cook, ever! But they're getting professional appliances and the whole nine yards. Yes, that does seem silly and wasteful to me. So I guess that is where my original thoughts on this came from. I don't begrudge anyone a good lifestyle though, and I certainly don't think that people who are childfree are the problem in the housing market. I humbly apologise for taking out those thoughts on you.

So, truce?

[JuniperLea]

94. I just told him that I was glad he never had kids because...

some genes should not be furthered. Does that count? No link needed:)

[Dora]

90. BFD! I've been part of DU long enough to say

I have NEVER, never have I EVER seen criticism or snubs or snarkiness such as what you describe coming from those who have children directed at those who do not have children.

So, you have a big house: how lovely for you. Many of us don't and we're still happy, and we don't think any less of people who have homes bigger than ours. However, we don't appreciate "poor me, I've been criticized for living in a big house" threads.

Your discourse in this thread has been disappointingly rude, and your initial post has a faint odor of flamebait. You seem to be carrying quite a chip on your shoulder; you'll hurt less if you set it down.

[JuniperLea]

95. Hear! Hear!

What Dora said.

[Gormy Cuss]

91. Funny you should mention it...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=729244&mesg_id=734794

I don't for the life of me understand why people are thin skinned about their reproductive choices, whether it be to have kids or not. There's nothing wrong with the term childless in my book, but there's a lot wrong with the people who think you're selfish, self-centered, or otherwise not fulfilling your duty to society by choosing not to have kids. It's that very sort of comment that gave rise to "breeders" and "child-free." Thankfully, the DINK label never got much traction. I hesitate to think what the next ruder term for parents would be.;-)

[TlalocW]

36. Well, every group in America gets to define itself more or less

And we used to be called, "childless," but some people thought that the less part made our societal segment seem like it was lacking something in a negative way so it's been moving towards childfree for a long time.

TlalocW

[TlalocW]

29. I knew I would never want kids

So my house was chosen with that in mind. It has a two car garage for my car and any car belonging to a possible romantic interest and three bedrooms - master bedroom, office, and guest room/storage area with futon, which I'm going to convert into a room for my ferrets. It's smaller and has less hidey-holes than the master bedroom and will be easier to keep clean as I'll create the hidey-holes for the ferrets with boxes and playthings and whatnot.

TlalocW

[On the Road]

33. I Rent at the Moment,

but my girlfriend rents out the basement and spare bedroom of her townhouse. Her mortgage is virtually free.

[xultar]

54. Now she's a business woman. You gotta keep her!

[SoCalDem]

38. My husband and I each have our own office-room

Mine's thrashed, his is neat as a pin with everything in manila folders.. (I have stacks-o-rubble)..The 3rd bedroom is a quasi-sewing room/guest room..the master bedroom is just a sleeping room..

We have a living room with a cat tower, furniture & a TV that I watch
The family room/dining room is where Pops watches WWII on the History channel ( :puke: )

and my postage-stamp sized kitchen is where most of my work is done (or not done)

Our bonus room is mostly a storage dump for now, but will soon become his TRAIN ROOM.. (If we ever get up enough energy to start moving stuff around)

our house is about 2K sqft, and sometimes feels too big, but we cannot afford to move until he retires. Once that happens, we will have to sell it to cash out and pay cash for a house somewhere cheap :)

[JuniperLea]

50. I think it rather crass and boorish to list one's assets

You've done everything but tell us your gross income. And to complain that people's complaints are sour grapes is just tacky.


I'm sorry, there are a few social etiquette rules that should never be broken. Never.

[Dem Agog]

56. so... do you want me to PM you my gross income?

sounds like you're looking for more reasons to be jealous... ;-)

just thought I'd ask... I know, I'm so declasse, and particularly because I haven't made lots of babies!

i'm used to jealousy. after awhile it becomes fun. please, heap more on. :)

[nonconformist]

74. You need help. nt

[Dem Agog]

77. Right... I see...

I don't breed like you, or do things you find acceptable so I need help.

How ironic that a "nonconformist" has a huge problem with someone who doesn't conform. Perhaps you should check with Skinner about changing your name to something more accurate!

I think it's well-documented in this thread that even the "openminded" "liberal" DU people still find it acceptable to bash those who don't make babies like we're supposed to. Perhaps Free Republic might be more to your liking, dear "nonconformist"...

:)

[nonconformist]

81. FOR THE LOVE OF FUCKING GOD

Read my goddamn posts.

I DON'T CARE THAT YOU ARE CHILDFREE. I THINK IT'S GREAT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE CHILDREN THAT DOESN'T WANT THEM.

Is that clear enough for you?

You need help because you unabashedly HATE people that DO have children, not the other way around.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nonconformist]

85. LOL! nt

[JuniperLea]

93. I'm glad you didn't have babies

Some genes just should not be furthered.

Jealousy has nothing to do with it, unless that is the reaction you are trying to evoke with your tacky, rude and class-less braggadocio. You haven't a clue who I am or what I have in the way of income or material possessions... and I feel no need to play oneupmanship with crass dregs of society. You could have easily gotten your point across in your OP without all the bravado. And your responses to the people here who tried to point out your folly were beyond rude. Perhaps Emily Post and Miss Manners should do an intervention.

Money and possessions don't give a person personality or charm... clearly.


Oh, and FYI - being a non-conformist does not mean you have to loose all sense of what is proper etiquette.

[TX-RAT]

57. Ones my reloading, fishing, gun, computer room.

The other is my wifes, i'm not allowed in there. The last one has turned into a plush hotel for cats, complete with 2 huge cat box's, exercise equipment, and a fine selection of primo cat toys.

[Dem Agog]

59. Suwheet!

Especially for the cats!

Our cat has cat trees in every major room, but so far no room of his own. Give him time, though... He's trying to take over the world.

[catmandu57]

61. Storage mostly

some of my furniture from before we got married, plus our clothes dryer and mounds of trash I'm trying to convince my wife to take to the garbage.
Newspaper with stories about somebodies third cousin four times removed that she knew long ago, magazines with stories about some celebrity.
Then i have an office/den/hideaway where I hang out.

[trackfan]

62. Our house is listed as 4 bedrooms -

One is already pretty much a natural den/library, so that's what it's used for.

Another is our bedroom.

The small one is Mrs. Gwbsamoron's office.

The fourth is our TV/Stereo room - and also holds a lot of junk, boxes, etc.

[Catherine Vincent]

63. I only have 2 spare bedrooms.

And I have a lot of relatives that do sleepovers, so my house is just right for me.

[Beaverhausen]

64. What extra rooms?

Is this a joke?

[seaglass]

65. My niece and her husband are childfree and have a beautiful

3 bedroom house. One master bedroom, one guest room, one home office.

My mom has a 3 bedroom house and lives alone, master bedroom, computer room, guest room.

Though I'd like to have my own room, I don't resent others who have more than I do. We all make different decisions about what is important to us.

[incapsulated]

66. I sleep in it.

It's called a bedroom. I have one. And a kitchen and bathroom, but they have pre-designed functions.

[stanwyck]

73. What's really great is when the kids move out

to college and all of a sudden you have two more rooms. And you have to fill them up or the little devils will move back in. So. My daughter's room is the new guest bedroom with lots of book shelves. And the former guest bedroom is now the exercise room with a computer and desk. Not much exercising being done, though. (also put a sleeper sofa in there for extra guests).
And my son's room is now a walk-in closet room. We put in french doors between the two rooms and had the room converted into a big closet room with shelves, drawers, and rods for hanging clothes. (there's a window seat that is the size of a twin bed, with a futon mattress -- best for a child or a small adult).
Extra beds come in handy around the holidays.
Just make sure your grown kids know the guest bedroom is just that...for guests.
(actually, we're not that bad. They're welcome to come back.)

[TX-RAT]

86. Thats us.

Our daughter moved out 12 year ago, and only been back once, when she was going through a divorce.

[progressivebydesign]

100. 5 bedroom for 3 of us...

Now, of course, when you have older kids they keep moving back, so you have to have room for that... and we both work at home, have to have rooms for that. And.. lots of out of town guests, gotta have a room for that. We use every square foot of our house, and then some. Creative types, and entreprenuerial types NEEEED lots of room!

I have no issue with childless couples with an extra bedroom or two, or home offices, etc. I DO get a bit testy when I see these 7k+ square foot houses being built for a retired couple who will live alone in it... then it becomes a status symbol, and a waste of resources. I've been in homes where the people have 7 bedrooms decorated to the hilt, with absolutely NO ONE using them, ever. That's conspicuous consumption.

[LeftCoast]

101. Locking

This thread has degenerated into a flame-fest.