It is, of course, considered polite on the tour to comment favorably on each room picking out its
most salient, important feature, such as the special view from the window, the vaulted ceiling in
the foyer or the exotic choice of wallpaper in the bathroom.
The finished basement is a special cause for pride for the family with its exercise room, video
games, carpenter shop and launderette. In most homes it is here that the family entertains itself in
the evening while the rest of the house becomes more of a showcase. On your tour you may be
reminded of the hours the owners had spent "fixing up the house" so it would be "nice for the
kids to bring over their friends". You may even sense a feeling of competition in knowing that
they have not only "kept up with the Joneses" but also have far surpassed them.
The tour will terminate after an hour or so somewhere on the back lawn next to the two-car air-
conditioned garage where you may be treated to a snack and light refreshment. Showing off one's home is more than an exercise in vanity. It is a tribute to one's
accomplishment. It is a way of saying that a man has been a good provider for his family and that
he has realized one of his dreams.