Living in an old charming house could turn out to be more dramatic than living in the center of town. But in another way.

You do not need to go to Barcelona, Berlin, or Bombay to have fun. You can stay in your own town. You can also do it cheaply. To help you along here are "Seven free things you can do in your city".

I remember an old friend’s dad from when we were little. Whenever he spoke it felt like he knew everything. He could talk about everything from beekeeping to karate, and he said it with such power in his voice that we all believed every word he said. When my girlfriend and I walked around in a strange family's garden with a realtor right behind us, I felt like that friend's dad. By rattling off rehearsed phrases and talking about heaters and drainage, I got a sense of what it was like to be the father who seemed to know it all. What it was like to stand in front of other people and say things about which you don’t have a clue, but sound as if you know exactly what you’re talking about.

The second time I was at a viewing, I had a prouder posture. The third time I yelled at the realtor. The fourth time I was the first one to ask a question. The fifth time I was by myself and talked with the realtor and for the first time I undestood what those questions meant.

We ended up not buying a house. And we’re probably better off. Too much renovating and to boot we lost every bidding war we got in to. A couple of hip fucking architects with beautiful children that they wore in Baby Slings who then went home and had a glass of Chablis. But someday I'll live in a house. And then I’ll know everything about drainage and heaters. I think.

Text: Navid Modiri