I love my mortgage rate. I hate my house.

• Five years later, we feel stuck in a humdrum house we don’t love because of its affordability.
• We realize we’re fortunate to have a home, but we can’t help wanting more from the place we live.

Perhaps we can pay off this house and not worry much about the mortgage rate on the next one. Although it feels unlikely, interest rates nearing historic lows again would also help.

Until then, I’ll keep making the 40-minute drive to my dad’s house for visits and doctors’ appointments and be grateful it’s not a nine-hour trip.