What Does Really Turns a Place Into a Home?

Filed in archive Latina Musings on February 27, 2007

We (husband and I) moved from the apartment to an old house last weekend.

The house is in bad shape, but we are taking care of it. It is bigger than the apartment, and it's really nice not having to climb the stairs anymore... three floors, every day.

But... I don't feel at "home". At least, not yet. That got me thinking.

What does really turns a place into a home?

I must say there's a huge difference between a true home and the place where you live. Home is more a feeling that a building; it's a space instead of a place.

I used to believe I had the answer to that question. Now I've realized I don't. We are here, our furniture and our stuff are also here, but I don't feel I'm home.

The house is a mess - I didn't had the time to put everything in its proper place yet; in fact, I'm far from get the "move" done. But that's not the reason why I don't feel home.

The apartment was a mess for months, while we were preparing the boxes for moving out. And it was my home, never the less.

Now, I must turn this house into our home. I'm pretty clueless on how to do that. I suppose I'll figure it out as time goes by.

I know this is not a Latin matter per se, but I thought you may have faced the same question, when you moved out, or when you went from your home country into the US. Have you? Have you learned or discovered anything that could help somebody dealing with this issue?

What does really turns a place into a home? Please share your thoughts, leave a comment.

Help me finding my home again.