Wednesday, May 16, 2012

MY GUILTY PLEASURE



For GBE2 #52: Guilty Pleasures

Most people think of pirate pleasures as being rum, a clear sail, booty, etc.  But, these are not guilty pleasures since most pirates have difficulty feeling guilt in any case.

I, however, not being the average pirate, do feel guilt and have quite a few guilty pleasures and the most ridiculous one (at least in some people's eyes) is HGTV"s "House Hunters".  Wait, not just "House Hunters", also "House Hunters International", "House Hunters World Tour" and any other variations on this show that HGTV wants to provide.  During rough times, when I've seen then all, I might even resort to "Property Virgins" and "For Rent".

When having a bad day, many of us turn to ice cream, chocolate, RUM, etc., but all I have to do is turn on an episode of "House Hunters"and am instantly cheered up.  Why?  I've always loved looking in other people's homes even if they are million dollar homes that have amenities that I would never hope to own.  But wait there's more, where else can you watch people with an amazingly low budget get upset because the house doesn't have stainless steel appliances.

Here are the must haves for almost all house hunters including the international ones:  Stainless steel appliances, double sinks in an en suite bathroom attached to the master bedroom, a master bedroom large enough to play tennis in, and a great back yard that requires no maintenance on the part of the owners (also no maintenance fees).  Are you beginning to see why this is fun?  The newer shows have actually been showing the exasperation on the part of the poor real estate agent who has been saddled with this couple.

Overseas, it's even worse.  People moving from Texas to Germany don't seem to get the idea that they won't have huge rooms, updated kitchens (sometimes there's no kitchen), at a reasonable price in German cities and the European countryside lacks even more of the amenities they can't live without.  Don't you just want to say "why didn't you stay home".  Is this a great distraction or what?  

The hardest part about this guilty pleasure is that HGTV has actually been cutting back on the hundreds of hours of House Hunters that they used to show in favor of OTHER SHOWS.  Still though there is a new one every weeknight at 10 p.m. eastern.  Check it out!!!

12 comments:

  1. Lol. Great post. But you forgot the granite counter! Yes, I love the 20 something couples who feel every kitchen they see needs "updating." and yes, the bedrooms are never large enough! So American! Though with this economy maybe well all start realizing smaller might be more savvy.

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    1. Yikes! How could I forget the granite countertops. They are for sure a "must have". Thanks

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  2. Many of the closets in the houses that aren't good enough for the 20somethings you mentioned are bigger than the half bath that is attached to my master bedroom. And my living room isn't the size of their master bedrooms and I don't like stainless steel appliances (remind me too much of the institutional kitchen when I had my first job) and I don't want granite. How out of the times am I? Absolute relic!

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    1. Definitely, large closets are a must have. Some of their closets are bigger than my second floor, lol!

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  3. I also enjoy watching spoiled 20-somethings turn up their noses at the color of the paint on the walls. But it's also really nice to see the other couples--the ones who don't mind a project or two--find a great house.

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    1. True the final part of this guilty pleasure is seeing the house when they've moved in and are actually happy (for the moment anyway). Some of the crabbiest people are not just young, there are some businessmen looking for vacation homes that I just want to slap sometimes. Hey, there's the fun!

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  4. I can see why "house hunters" would be a guilty pleasure for a piratey kind a gal. After all--you should be sailing your ship and thinking about the next load of booty but NOOOO!! Here you are indulging in a show for land-lubbers. Shiver-me-timbers!!

    LMAO!! (Okay--enough kidding around!!)

    Actually-- I enjoy the House Hunter shows too :) I just love seeing all the various layouts of the houses and try to get ideas while watching for improving my own!!

    Cheers, Jenn.

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  5. Okay, I have seen a couple of those shows (read couple hundred) and I admit to wanting to reach through the screen and pop a couple people (read many). I do love how none of these opulent homes are quite "move in" ready! Ha! I'm pretty darned happy with my little piece of earth and my humble 1000 square foot ranch. It's everything I need and more than I want to clean some days! LOL ♥

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  6. I confess to taking it a step farther... I am constantly looking at property for sale on the internet. I had 3 rental properties, but sold them all as retirement approached. The current housing market brings the entrepreneur out of me. If I was younger, I would be all in the rental business again...

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  7. OH I AM SO WITH YOU ON THIS..ME TOO!!!!!! did you see the one..LOLOL i know you did, the doctor and his wife, she had long red hair and these adorable children and i so CAN"t believe they came from her body and they bought that gorgeous house in Tahiti! You know the one, the pool on the bottom and the huge home with identical rooms all about, attached. The view was incredible..and YES if i had TV i would STILL watch those!! LOVE "seeing" visiting other places! LOVE traveling period..and if its not possible physically, well alrighty then..sittin on the couch is ok too.(hate to admit that) Loved reading this..then always love reading your thoughts! MUAH!

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  8. I'll have to check this one out. My hubby thinks I'm nuts because I want the next house to be cottage-small and I want it to be in need of repair. I look forward to painting and papering my way through it, making every little nook and cranny mine, all mine.

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