You Know You Are Old When

[ultrarunner]

Yep. Two primary reasons for that:

1. A single-story house requires twice the total roof area per square foot of floor space, and heat loss thru a roof is about 15% higher per unit area than heat loss thru walls, on average.

2. A cube is the most efficient shape, providing the most interior volume per outside surface area. A 2-story colonial is more much cube'ish than a rancher.

Yep… a cube is by far the most square feet for wall length.

The neighborhood with the barrier free has deed restriction allowing only ranch style homes so it is narrow and long…

My builder friend says he can deliver more square feet less expensive with cube footprint.

 

[sixdogs]

I think you know you're old, or certainly older when you watch another presidential inauguration and are surprised by how many of the politicians look much older than they did the last time you saw them. Especially when you look at yourself in the mirror, you haven't aged all that much.

 

[not2old]

We live in a 2300 square foot rancher with a full basement for storage. There are three steps at the front or through the garage. The basement entrance is down three steps. I don't want to live in a place where I need to navigate a full flight regularly, but the storage is good. I am getting better with the storage, I now have only three motorcycles down there.

 

[lman]

I think you know you're old, or certainly older when you watch another presidential inauguration and are surprised by how many of the politicians look much older than they did the last time you saw them. Especially when you look at yourself in the mirror, you haven't aged all that much.

I'm not quite there yet but if you're older than most of the politicians there, you're old.

 

[garry1p]

if you're older than most of the politicians there, you're old.

That's now I see it, it's all in your perspective.

I can't believe how young a lot of these politicians are.

 

[scootr]

You know you are old when some kid in a cop uniform pulls you over and asks to see your license, Sir.

 

[goeduck]

Another advantage to a single level house.... You'll have a better chance of surviving a fall off of the roof. A good friend fell off of his, hit grass, broke his back, but it was repairable. He no longer goes on the roof. Me, I have a 4:12, so easy to walk on (so far). I typically use a 10 foot step ladder sitting on concrete, but I should get a 12 footer. Getting on and off the ladder is my only pucker factor. Or use my 14 ft orchard ladder with the single leg in the flower bed.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I have a 2 story house with a 4 in 12 pitch roof. At 77, I don't do extension ladders anymore but need access to various roof mounted antennas, satellite dishes, weather instruments, etc.

I built this permanent "landing" with handholds and removeable ladder, to access the roof from the deck:

Looks ugly but at my age, it's function over form. It can't be seen from the front of the house, so no one complains.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I have a 2 story house with a 4 in 12 pitch roof. At 77, I don't do extension ladders anymore but need access to various roof mounted antennas, satellite dishes, weather instruments, etc.

I built this permanent "landing" with handholds and removeable ladder, to access the roof from the deck:

View attachment 2283628 View attachment 2283632
View attachment 2283637 View attachment 2283641

Looks ugly but at my age, it's function over form. It can't be seen from the front of the house, so no one complains.

My Dad fell just 7 feet onto his back in his 60s and never the same. It's very smart having something like that.

 

[dougtrr2]

There was an interview with Betty White where she was asked how she stayed in such great shape. The essence of the answer was, she lived in a two story house and had a poor memory which translated into extra trips up and down the stairs.

Doug in SW IA