My grandmother loved to host parties and could find any occasion to do so. It didn't matter what we were celebrating, she had specific decorations and menus. Sometimes she would let me help her create the hors d'oeuvres, other times she put me in charge of passing them out to her guests. She was never afraid to set a dress code, either, so all her friends would show up with a bit of dazzle and glam. I used to feel so special just to be around everyone, even though I didn't know them and was one of the only kids in the room.

I often think back on those parties, and how fun they were, but also how out of reach something like that feels for me. I have hosted small gatherings at my house, but nothing like the events my grandparents put on, and I honestly never could, simply because of how different of a space my house is compared to theirs. My grandparents built an incredible home on Lake Sunapee in the 1970s. They designed it exactly how they wanted it, and it was meant to be a place where they could host their friends and family. The main area was open and spacious, with tall ceilings and sliding glass doors that led right out onto the porch overlooking the lake. Downstairs, there were extra rooms with bunk beds and another porch attached to stairs leading to the dock on the lake. It was beautiful, and they were proud of it.

It's important to consider other functions of your home beyond it just being the place where you live. If hosting big gatherings is something that's important to you, finding the right house that allows you to do that is crucial. Talking to your agent about your hopes and dreams for your home will allow them to help you find what you are looking for.

I live in a very different world than the one my grandparents did, and I have always been fairly aware of that, even as a little kid. The parties I know and love are hosted in backyards with a grill and a firepit, not with a dress code or guest list. Still, I sometimes miss being able to take a glimpse behind the veil into that world, even just for a night.

A few years after my grandfather died, my grandmother sold the house on the lake. I have often wondered about who bought the house that my grandparents loved so much, or if the new owners host parties like they did. I like to imagine that they do, since the house was designed for it. Although, if they do, I have a feeling their guests don't have to adhere to a dress code, but I guess I'll never know.

Paige O. Roberts has a degree in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Henniker Review, Sidereal Magazine, Rejection Letters, and Cypress. She has been nominated for a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize. She lives in northern New Hampshire, where she owns and operates a pet boutique called Tailswag.