Wise Man and Foolish Man and Houses -

The Wise man built his house upon the rock, the Foolish man built his house upon the sand . . . as goes the children's song, complete with the swooshing of hands as the foolish man's house is washed away.

Taking this song literally - we learn from this that it's wise to build a house that will last forever and ever - on a firm, sure, earthquake and flood proof foundation. And while that may be ideal, is building a house that may be only temporary, a bad idea?

My parents generation was of the wise man camp - build one house, get one job, live there, work there until you retire, then die. Raise the large family, pay off the house, get the pension, and then . . .

My mother has lived in 4 houses in her life - two on the same piece of land in Idaho, one for 18 years, in town, and now the current home for more than 40 years. All houses built to stand, to last, to never be moved away from. She's also lived in some temporary houses - Hawaii, Philippines, cabins - for no more than 5 months in each -  but always kept that tether between the rock house and the sand house tight.

Us kids - all 7 of us could be called "foolish" as we have moved more than twice, built more than twice, lived in the same area in different homes, lived in different towns and states based on careers, family size, life-style choices. And no tight tethers - no going back to home, but going forward to the new home, a new type of rock or sand foundation. While the sand and storm didn't wash any of them away, we said good-bye and moved on.

For my mother, even living in her current home for more than 40 years, she lives temporary, she yearns to go home, while, interestingly, her children call her current home, home. The home she longs for is one that doesn't exist, change has taken away most of what Mom misses, yet her heart is there, not in the here and now. She would still rather have one rope attached to her heart, keeping her pulled toward Idaho.

It's been interesting to live with someone for these 40 years, who has always lived temporary, while building a home we could call permanent. Mother's temporary home has been 6 of the 7 children's permanent home.

And for all of us children - we're baffled, a concept that's difficult to grasp. We may not love the city where we live, yet we love what is inside our house, and we make choices every day to learn to love and get acquainted with this home. We call wherever we live permanent - knowing this will be temporary, yet getting involved in our communities, our schools, our neighborhoods, our landscape.

I love my home; I've lived here longer than anywhere else (except the home I was reared in in Idaho for 16.5 years). I have made it strong, gentle, loving, inviting. Do I think I'll die in this home - no. Do I think I'll live in this home forever - no. Will I be sad to leave this home - no. It is mine temporarily, in the sand, washing away as a new situation comes my way.

Who's wise, who's foolish - does it matter?