Things you take for granted

If you live on land, in a typical house:

• Your home is relatively "safe", thanks to building codes, Underwriters Labs, and consumer protection laws.
• You have hot running water on demand.
• You can take a bath and soak the cares away.
• You have an endless supply of water.
• You have electricity on demand, and a mostly uninterrupted supply.
• Your closet  can hold a full length dress or suit.
• You have a way to (mostly) secure your home.
• Your home doesn't move.  It pretty much stays in the same place, unless there's an earthquake, flood, or landslide and screaming...
• Your dishes are ceramic and your glasses are glass.
• You have a refrigerator and a freezer.
• You have a washer and dryer.
• You have a dishwasher.
• You don't care what happens when you go to the bathroom as long as the toilet flushes and doesn't clog.
• You likely have separate rooms for lounging, dressing, eating, and entertaining.
• You have a garden.
• Your biggest fear for the house is fire.
• The police need a warrant to search your home.
• If you don't like your neighbors, you'll have to call the cops, or maybe have to sell the home, if the market recovers.
• If you want to travel, you will leave your home unattended (or with a sitter) and take a vacation to the South Pacific.

If you live in Brigadoon:

• Your home is not inherently unsafe, but it like aviation and the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any incapacity, carelessness or neglect.
• You have a water front view.  Actually it's an on the water view that, if you lived in a houseboat, or a waterfront home, would cost about close to a million dollars.
• Some people have dogs.  You have ducks and geese.
• Your home moves, all the time.  Sometimes it's a little and sometimes it's a lot, but it moves.
• Your home can collide with another home.
• You icebox uses actual blocks of ice.
• You have to fill your water tanks if you want water from your faucet.
• It takes 20 minutes to make hot water for washing dishes.
• You wash dishes by hand.
• You are no more than five or six steps to any possession you own.
• You have very little privacy or personal space.
• Your have exactly, and not more than, about 18" of hanging closet space, and that's only as tall as a shirt.
• The sound of your bilge pump running, for a short period mind you, is comforting.
• Your greatest fear for your home is fire, then sinking, or just sinking.  Yeah, just sinking is scary enough.
• The police, coast guard, or the navy can board your boat at any time they want, without a warrant, check your papers, inspect at your fire extinguishers and your boat systems.
• If you don't like your neighbors, you can move your home and get new neighbors.
• If you want a vacation, you can take your home to the South Pacific.
• When you go on vacation, your home, and all your possessions, are with you.