“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

The private-type yards, the house on its own knoll, say clearly “We are not neighborhood barbecue people.” There is not an easy access from house to house. People who relate in a cozy, more or less openhearted way with their neighbors like adjoining patios. They may put up a screen for privacy, but all in all they prefer more or less constant neighborly give-and-take.

There are points to be considered also in the Levine affair, for our bemused Dr. Levine would cut out all of nature, you think, if he had the chance, and as Ruburt said, sterilize the neighborhood. His response there was excellent for him, as you said. You both do need privacy for your work and because of your natures, but if you try to find a home with no dogs or children within miles, then in another way you are doing what Sam Levine is trying to do, only in your own way. To you, far more acceptable, of course, than his way.

This does not mean you need children in the house next door. It does mean that you settle for a reasonable amount of privacy, but that you do not carry the idea to extremes. If the sound of children’s voices, or dogs, even in the distance, annoys you, then you are doing a Dr. Levine in your own ways.

You think the green house by the river was too much a box—but it was its open air of hospitality that bothered you—the wide windows open to the street. It was a box, but it was open, not shielded from the front.

Even you, however, will feel more secure with a place of your own than you would with the money drawing interest in the bank. It is a different kind of security. Your daily environment is very important to your work, and to Ruburt. The money in the bank is helpful, but if your daily environment is not conducive to your work and peace of mind, then the money security is meaningless. You will have plenty plus your house. An expensive house as such is not required. Your own ideas however of privacy and so forth in your society requires a certain amount of cash. There is nothing wrong for example with the south side. You also possess an esthetic sense, however. You require certain things of your art, and therefore you want the same things in your environment. Once you had it here, for all of your criticism. Now it is gone, and you are different.

You must forget current market values. They are artificial. I am not telling you to forget your own finances, but the contractor’s idea of the physical worth of the Foster house has only an adjacent connection with its values to you. You would be well-equipped financially to make whatever changes you want in the future.

The Cobbles East house would not content you, though it is a quite adequate house, and elegant in its way inside. You would feel cramped, however. The hill house, because of its location, adds a spaciousness that is inside the Foster house, but either way you have an open feeling in terms of expansion.

Now: once I gave you a recommendation, and you did not really take it. I can foresee probabilities, but you make your own reality, and I will not take the responsibility. Taking that for granted, and knowing your characteristics, I have more to say. You may not like it.

The hill house does not. It represents a kind of challenge you have not thus far accepted. A kind of living in the present that has frightened you both. As given however it still possesses qualities that do go in with your natures. Foster Street represents an elegant secretive past, and you would both try to hide within it. Ruburt hates to give it up for that reason, but to a lesser degree so do you.

(“I’m shocked,” Jane countered. “I loved the idea of that Foster Street house. But he’s so fucking smart—Seth—”

(“Oh shit, I’m getting more.” Jane laughed after coming back into the room. She sat down. “I’ll have to say; when I ask for straight stuff, I get it.” But she still looked teary-eyed to me, though. Resume at 11:02.)

It will automatically tempt him to walk about. The two levels of the house are good. The stairs will be a part of living. There is privacy, but it is tempered by the open air of the hill, yet still the distance is maintained that is necessary for each of you. It is not claustrophobic privacy.

The sunny nature and the open quality—regardless of what Ruburt thinks now, will help him creatively and physically—but the house represents a decision to face the world, while maintaining certain necessary and quite reasonable conditions. It provides privacy yet openness.

The parking is all right, though in winter only one side particularly is permitted. But it is a dead-end street, so as long as driveways are honored you are all right.

For your purposes the house is worth the price. In the market, in Frank’s terms, the house is worth perhaps $38,500, or $39,000. That price will also go up. Though the rooms are smaller there is in a strange way greater manipulability, psychically speaking. A definite change in living patterns will result, and of attitude, that would not happen in the Foster house. This also means that greater adaptability is required, but it will be to the good. The whole difference here is the quality of nature as it surrounds both houses. The one invites you to roam, the other to hide. Both houses have Sumari characteristics, but in different combinations. You both need the sun.