 My adult life, I decide, can be divided into two distinct parts, the time before I owned a washing machine and the time after. I consider the possibility that the washing machine, more than the house, has changed my life. I call my sister and tell her that what I've really done is buy a $400,000 container for a washing machine. As I say this, I'm aware that the cost of our house was closer to $500,000, but I don't say that out loud. It makes me too uncomfortable.