Did you get to live in your “dream house”?
Yep. Actually, I have two. One is a 4,000 square foot house on 23 acres that looks over a very large pond; the other is in another state. It's somewhat smaller but has 15 acres of woodland around it.
I would not have had this were I burdened with kids' costs--including college tuition payments.
IOW, I planned my life carefully and everything worked out the way I planned. I guess that somehow bothers you.
I live in my dream house now. It isn’t very big. It isn’t very fancy. But it is my dream house because I share it with my wife and 3 children. I could have a big fancy house if we did not have children, but my family is more important than any wordly possesion.