The house with the solar panels

Solar power (Photo by Chance Agrella/FreeRangeStock.com)

One of my high school friends lived in a house that her father, who I think was an architect, built himself. I was in awe the first time I saw it, mostly because it was — and probably still is — the largest home I've ever set foot in. I have no idea how many square feet it had, but my friend was one of six children, and each had his or her own bedroom.

It also had solar panels, a rare thing in my hometown back then. Though even today, I can't think of another house I've laid eyes on that is powered, a least in part, by the sun.

My friend's family moved away in the 1990s, and she and I lost touch not too long after graduation. But even today, a couple of decades later, when I pass by the house, I am still fascinated by it, oddly enough, because of those solar panels. Were they enough to power the whole home? Or did they just mitigate what otherwise would've been a large electricity bill? What does the house look like under the part of the roof with the solar panels? Is it a big open space or a mess of wires and utility boxes?

A few days ago, I noticed a "for sale" sign in the yard and considered calling the Realtor and asking for a tour. Of course, I'd never buy it. It would outsize my tiny family of three so much that it could never feel cozy.

But it does make me want to one day get solar panels of my own, though I would barely be able to afford ones small enough for an RV let alone ones big enough to power my house. And even after that, I would have the added challenge of the extra fee my home state, Oklahoma, allows utilities to charge customers who have rooftop solar and wind turbine.

But I'll still put them on my wish list; however, it might have to be my retirement wish list.