We’ve been living in our apartment for almost two years now. It’s a one-sixteenth share of De Vijverburcht, located on the second floor. Because of extremely inflated housing prices, we had to take our mortgage to a higher level to buy it.

We cleaned it inside and out, filled in holes, painted and whitewashed walls and ceilings, had a new kitchen installed, and new flooring laid. The costs stayed within budget, but only because we had set a very generous one.

That’s not all: We did paint our doors. But the window frames still need to be done. But not before a decision is made on our Sustainability Committee’s plan to replace the 1998 windows with new HR++1.0 isolated glazing. (It will undoubtedly be close to or break through the three thousand euros barrier, according to the plan)

And the monthly HOA* dues (which, understandably, rise by about three to four percent annually) are, of course, a provision for hidden maintenance and repairs. “Painting the exterior” is also already on the agenda. Personally, I keep putting off one job: The balcony wall needs to be repointed,

and, well, the boiler will hopefully celebrate its thirteenth birthday this year without any disturbance. “Maybe we should,” I thought, “start weaning ourselves off that gas, too. Changing it for a heat pump, running on electricity.”

The garage door no longer runs smoothly -or at all- on its electric motor from the late 20th century.

And one day, an electric charging station will appear…

“Well,” my wife said cautiously, “eventually I’d like to have our bathroom modernized, too. Better lighting and fresh white grout between the tiles…” She suggested, “Maybe a walk-in shower is an option! We’re not getting any younger, of course, but we are getting stiffer.”

That evening, as I mull over all the ideas and plans and the associated effort (hiring professional workmen and or -women!) and expenses, I suddenly had to think of an American friend who has lived in an older house for years herself.

She sighed as she showed me her painter’s bill and told me about an expensive but absolutely necessary roof renovation: “You don’t own a house, but the house owns you!”

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*Homeowners Association (HOA).