Originally Posted by genejockey

One problem I have is that I grew up with a big back yard, and I really like the feeling of the outdoor space. Mom and Dad had 1 3/4 acres, which Dad worked on lovingly for 50 years, basically working a good 8-12 hours most Saturdays from March till November, and often starting plants like tomatoes in the basement with grow lights so they'd be ready to plant after the last frost.

We bought our house because of the big (for here) yard, which turned out to be even bigger than we realized. It's about a 1/3 of an acre, where most yards are 1/4 or less. But it turns out I'm not my Dad, and when Saturday rolls around I don't want to get up and go do yard work. And yet, when I'm on Zillow or Realtor, I'm drawn to the houses with big yards. Go figure.