“They just don’t build homes like these anymore.”

This is a friendly euphemism my guests toss out about my (nearly century old) North Buffalo double.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the house, but I understand its limitations. Character rarely aligns with practicality when it comes to habitation. Two-prong outlets might have more character but I assure you my flatscreen doesn’t give a hoot.

My old stomping ground… as in my presently old home, delivers many challenges. I think the builder thought electricity was going to be a fad and wallpaper was timeless. One outlet per room and wallpapered ceilings will back me up on this.

Another challenge is the amount of noise the home creates. Wall-to-wall wooden floors sounds fancy. So do leather seats until its 90 degrees out. The floors creak and groan like… well wooden floors built 90 years ago.

Through the years of living in the home I have had wonderful tenants and not so wonderful inhabitants. No matter what though, they all made noise. Walking and talking is a part of living, I’ve had to come to terms with that as a landlord who shares the same roof.

Recently I have been blessed with new tenants, a really nice couple who are ideal renters and friends. Wouldn’t you know it, they make noise too, but somehow their footsteps sound different.

I hear the noise but it doesn’t bother me. Yet the same creaks and groans from a past tenant bothered me quite a bit at times. Guess which footsteps were attached to the habitually late paying feet?

Same noises. Two very different feelings attached to them.