patrick.net

The one thing I would really, truly like is a basement. Houses in CA almost never have them, though I saw one on TV which did.

A basement is an incredibly useful room. You can do the laundry down there, there is limitless storage space, you can can vegetables and preserves and keep them in the cellar, and when the kids get a little older you can turn it into a playroom for them. People put pool tables and bars in the basement as well.

If you are a hobbyist the basement is the ideal place for you. I've seen huge model railroads, HAM radio stations, quilting looms, etc. -- the list goes on and on.

In the unlikely event that I am ever in a position to have a house built here, I will certianly insist on a basement. People from areas without them just don't know what they are missing, basements are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

The one thing I would really, truly like is a basement. Houses in CA almost never have them, though I saw one on TV which did.

Some houses in SJ have basements.

Did you mention model railroads? :)

Basement = Wine cellar.

schlep baskets full of dirty clothes down two flights of stairs

My great-grandfathers house had a chute in the bathroom that you put your clothes in and they ended up in the basement in a cage fastened to the ceiling.