Like many of you, I fly quite a bit. Watching live TV at 30,000 feet is still a pretty magical notion — one that my kids will never understand as unusual.
Five years ago, the idea was just so ridiculously awesome. Even now, I think of it as space-aged enhanced turbo TV at 500 mph.
The team that built this should win some ultra-golden-Emmy-Nobel prize.
Perhaps it was Elon Musk? Whoever you are — you are my hero. Not because I watch TV, but because it keeps the kid sitting behind me from beating his tray table with Transformers.
We can all agree that low-orbit, live-streaming transcontinental TV and Internet is a cherished prize — a gift not to be abused.
However, the guy next to me on this flight is watching “House Hunters.”
What the hell? Elon would be outraged!
The reality TV house-hunting shows have glorified the happily-ever-after-dream-home search, and people love it — like, really, really love it.
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Perhaps I’m alone here…but, I’m pretty tired of the dream-home notion.
That’s not to say the shows are not entertaining. It’s just the premise and goal of many of them that’s irritatingly unbelievable and untrue. Pick my dream home from three listings? In half an hour? And how do they luck into the world’s nicest, most informed, most communicative agent?
Most people search for over three months, looking for ratings, reviews, amenities and problems. Pictures and videos might look lovely enough to tour, but for most of us, it has to pass the reality test. As in: “What’s it really like to live there?”
When I’m looking for a place to live, I want to find one that’s a good fit. There will be compromises.
I want a private solar-heated rooftop swimming pool with unobstructed views of the harbor. I want to hang with Sasquatch and his cousin the Yeti and talk about technology startups. Now that’s a dream home.
karamysh / Shutterstock.com
Your dream home might differ slightly.
In reality, my dream home is a place that’s a good fit for my family and me. It needs to be highly livable. It won’t be perfect in every way shape and form.
The location is important, but it’s also silly to think that the neighborhood is going to be static and never change. Dream homes are just that — dreams.
In reality, 39 percent of us don’t like the place where we just moved. This seems like a tremendous opportunity for improvement and advancement.
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Although I don’t believe in Yeti, Sasquatch or happily-ever-after dream homes, five years ago I didn’t believe I could be watching the Royals and Mets winning in the playoffs live on a plane, either.
Who knows — perhaps we’ll all find our dream homes someday. I’ll know mine right away because Yeti will be hanging out on the porch with a cold six-pack of locally brewed IPA.
Chris Drayer is the co-founder of Revaluate. Connect with him on LinkedIn and on Twitter @FPO.