The Difference between a Deck and a Porch

When we bought the place out here, there was much to be done to it. Like rebuilding it from the inside out...but the land was lovely and semi-level and owning land is almost more important than owning a house. While you can always build a house, my Grandfather, Dwight Douglas, always held that "God isn't making land anymore." We have what we have and mankind is busily filling it up with fence to fence housing. I didn't want a house where I could look out my window and into my neighbor's window to ask if she had some Grey's Poupon. Yeah, I really like brown mustard. With ham and swiss on rye there's nothing better. So, anyhow, I looked at the sorry excuse for a deck that was pinned on and after much discussion, we decided on a large porch on the back and a pretty big porch on the front. So, you ask, what is the difference between a porch and a deck? A deck is for children to play on and cook out on and just in general carouse around on. A porch is for rocking chairs. It's where you drink that first cup of morning coffee while you talk over the plans for the day, it's a handy place to put planters full of flowers to enjoy. While a deck is open to the air top to bottom, a porch has roof on it to protect you from the elements, mainly rain...wind is another problem altogether...if you have problems with being blown away, you simply go into the house, you know, that place with the four walls that you wish to escape from by going out onto the porch. Porches are where you wait for the labor pains to start, where people come by and ask you " you haven't had that baby yet?" Porches are where you put the playpen so the baby can get lots of fresh air, a little sun (but not to much). It's where the tricycle can get a good work out and with a gate, you don't worry about them rolling off into the yard. Porches are where your daughter gets her first goodnight kiss (with Dad on the other side of the wall, the light switch at his fingertips...the warning every young man fears, and every young girl expects.) Porches are for comings in and goings out. They are about the beginning of our lives and the ending of our lives. Porches are for life. Decks are for fun.