Second Time 'Round?

On second thought... is the bane of the impatient and the motto of the cautious. But it works well when big decisions are to be made. Buying a house or car or something major, calls for much thinking and second thoughts. It isn't the initial cost that can rip a deal; it's the add-ons and maintenance that stresses. Tax is a big and immediate factor. How much does that up the true cost? Insurance is another factor. The bigger the purchase, the greater the insurance. Maintenance can haunt for the rest of the new item's existence. What's bigger needs more work to keep up. Sometimes "on second thought" changes the whole deal and a less ambitious but more comfortable situation is decided upon. OST works! Unfortunately, that doesn't work with marriage and often just living together. The heart pushes one way very strongly at the time and the head simply follows. How nice to be one with someone else, you think, and what better way than sharing the same space? When it is done and your cat and his dog have made friends, it's too late for second thoughts. Realities enter. Who pays for what? Who is responsible to do what? Where is privacy and freedom? The first fight that always ends with make-up something, usually determines  how matters will proceed from then on and often times, the unworkable meets the impossible and the moving company moves in while you move out. It is really too bad for the dog and cat who have managed to share their space equitably. And then there is the big real estate deal that is a scraper. A couple I knew, had their heads in a cloud when a certain gorgeous house found its way into their young dreams. No sooner had they moved into the architectural wonder than the tax, the hydro, the cable and insurances inundated them. A mere two salaries were not enough. A realtor sign went up and they, down. Fortunately, they sold the dream/nightmare home and found a smaller fixer-upper that turned into a charmer they could live with. They forgot the benefit of second thought. Second thought isn't always best, however. There are times  when you see it, you grab it or it will stay in the why-didn't-I room that lies in a dark place at the back of your mind. On second thought, second place can be the winner sometimes.