h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've always preferred living in non-standard housing.

I've lived in plenty of basements and the like, but that's not what I mean. When I was growing up, the two places I most wanted to live were the old power station and the bus station. The power station was a four story brick and concrete building with no interior walls or floors other than the ground level, and it had the most magnificent windows. It was full of metal catwalks, strange transformers, and odd-smelling chemicals. I wanted to live there so badly I could taste it. Unfortunately, the City still used it, and they didn't like folks like me hanging around.

The bus station was a single large room with an enormous carport (big enough for the busses, of course), and a 4 bus garage out back. When it stopped serving as a bus station, it was eventually converted into a dentist's office or the like. I couldn't afford to rent it at the time, and I nearly cried when it was converted to a house of torture, complete with plastic "glass" blocks.

I eventually lived in a converted warehouse in Houston, in a so-called loft. Lofts usually have more than one level and are open up top, and large rooms like this one are usually called studios, but loft sells better than studio when you want yuppies to move downtown. It was fantastic. We overlooked some strange art studios and the interstate, we had a dive tex-mex restaurant across the street, and the back lot was a bus yard. I was in heaven.

For some reason, the wife and I left the loft and moved to an old house in the artsy/gay part of town. While I really enjoy the trees and greenery, and I realize that we have twice the room for the same rent, I just don't feel comfortable in an actual house or apartment. I take some comfort in the fact that this old house has been split into three sections, and is thus not fully a house, but it's just not the same.

The time has come for us to look at purchasing actual real estate rather than throwing our rent into the pockets of landlords. I'm on the lookout for an old grocery store or warehouse for us to buy. I'd love to have an old supermarket, complete with large glass freezers and check-out aisles. I think it would be great for storing food and supplies for upcoming raptures.

Perhaps we'll move out of this wonderful house and into some strange storefront, or maybe even a rooftop shack. Until then, I'll dream of living in the steam tunnels of a southern university.