For the past year or so, M and I have been saving up to buy a house. Neither of us has ever wanted to be a homeowner — we still don’t relish the thought — but considering our current pet situation and future goals, doing so makes sense.

Ideally, our new house will be in good working order. It will have at least 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, hardwood floors, a decent backyard, a large kitchen and a fireplace. Those requirements are pretty much non-negotiable. Our “wants” list is pretty long, and it seems to be getting longer as time goes by.

Since leaving New York City, we’ve learned that we like to have space to move around so a home larger than 2,000 sq.ft. would be preferred. Additional roominess suits our menagerie of pets as well. Despite the fact that something like half of all homes in New England use oil heating, we’d prefer to have another fuel warm our abode. We also want a place that’s well-sealed against the elements. A laundry room would be nice; a laundry room on the second floor would be even nicer. Speaking of which, we’d like a second floor.

Then there’s the “don’t want” list. We don’t want a house that’s in a flood zone, nor do we want one with a pool or any sort of swing-set in the backyard. We don’t want to be too close to the neighbors, yet living in the boonies doesn’t appeal either. We’d prefer public water to private, central air to window units and tall ceilings over low ones (I like to buy really big Christmas trees). I’m willing to repaint the inside; I’m not willing to rewire the whole place because the wiring was put in before the Internet was invented.

Needless to say, we’ve narrowed our search down to three states and two countries. Hopefully we’ll find a place to love (and one that lands in our price range).

The very thought of applying for a mortgage makes me physically ill, though. Since we’re not independently wealthy, there’s simply no other option. At some point during the coming months, we’re planning to take one of those “first time homebuyers” workshops. Our hope is that doing so will not only demystify the whole buying experience, it’ll help us find additional financing and/or assistance with closing costs.

In the meantime, I spend hours looking at real estate listings, some for houses we can afford and some for houses we can only afford if we won the lottery. I’m also eying my possessions in a new light. As the probability of moving looms, I find myself walking through the rooms of our current home and deciding which items I want to pack and which ones I want to donate. I expect the desire to rid myself of more “stuff” will soar once I begin the packing process.

(Photo is a still from the film “Practical Magick.” I love the look of this house.)