Although I grew up in a house, most of my adult life I’ll been a Manhattanite and an apartment dweller. (See 2026 McGraw and Cooking with Gas) However over the years we did spend many wonderful summers in houses at the beach. (See The Great Hampton Babysitter Heist, Menemsha Sunset, and Skinny Dipping) They were all rentals and our stays there hassle-free, and at the end of our lease we’d empty the fridge, pack up our stuff, and drop off the keys. But about a dozen years...