I sold my dream home and moved into an apartment less than half the size. It was tough, but I'm happy in a smaller space.

Buying my perfect house felt like a dream come true, but I sold it after a couple of years. Catherine Collins Buying my Pinterest-perfect dream home felt like proof that I'd "made it." After I got a divorce, though, my house became hard to maintain on my own. As hard as it was to downsize, renting a smaller apartment has given me stability and happiness. A few years ago, I achieved the American dream. You know the one: I purchased a home . My dream home. For years, like so many, I pinned hundreds of images on Pinterest of what I wanted in a house, from a spacious kitchen to a big soaker tub. The house I bought was over 3,600 square feet with features I never even knew I wanted, like a dreamy tiled bathroom and a rock wall in the basement for my twins.