"Donal" wrote
If having a new house is something to be proud of, then I must hang my
head
in shame. Parts of my house are older than your country!!

In fact my family has had homes older than our country too. My German
ancestors farmhouse was used as a commissary by Geo. Washington at Valley
Forge. It's still named after my family even though it's now publicly owned
(Valley Forge Park).
I've been in many very old homes. In general, they're beautiful but too
inefficiency for my liking. I like the modern building materials,
waterproofed basements, tall basements, superior electrical and plumbing
systems, and so forth.
Scout