In our lives we always nurture a little dream of what we want to do at a point of our lifespan when we achieve financial independence and have the wherewithal to retire. By retirement I don't mean sit around, watch "Jerry Springer" and play golf; I mean pursue the next phase of your life's adventure.
I love the job I have now and I can't imagine not doing it (or something I equally love). I won't ever not work, but when my stride slows I need to consider what the next step should be.
My parents set the bar high. They worked their entire lives and made smart investments. They retired in their mid 50s and moved their lives to their dream spot: Pebble Beach on the California Central Coast. There, they dabbled in local politics, volunteer work at local golf events and other pursuits.
As long as I can remember, I've always had the same dream. If I retire at 55 or 60, I want to pack up the City life and find a perfect farmhouse in New England. And I want to restore it myself, keeping its sweet details intact but with the added benefit of modern conveniences. While not even familiar with New England, I started to whittle down my choice of states and a decade ago, I decided I wanted to settle in Vermont.
I've never been to Vermont. I hear it's nice. I hear it has Currier & Ives worthy winters, skiing, beautiful mountains and lakes for summer activities. And hello--I understand it's a blue state, populated by worthy liberals. That's right up my alley.
My dream consists of finding the perfect farmhouse setting. I'd spend my time writing and maybe try to get something published. I'd garden and volunteer on the local paper. Send contributions to Vermont Life Magazine (in truth, I'd like to run Vermont Life Magazine, but it's based way up north in Montpelier and I like the idea of having closer proximity to Manhattan and Boston). The best part of all of my dream? I always loved the idea of hosting large holiday getaways (a'la "The Big Chill") for my family-less friends. That would give me the greatest pleasure of all.
In off hours, I noodle around on real estate sites in an effort to actualize what that dream house will be. I don't know many cities in southern Vermont so I rely on those friends who know the area. One friend recommended an area so I've used that as a starting area barometer. I'm years away from pursuing this but I figure it doesn't hurt to have a peek in the interim. A few days ago, I found a place that embodied exactly what I eventually want.
It's important to have a dream. What's yours?
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I just want to be able to spend time on the beach in my little cottage part of the year and have a real life elsewhere the rest of the year, teaching in a small liberal arts college. I want a garden, some cats, happy children, and some good books to read. Oh yeah, I hate to say it but most importantly, a soulmate type person to share all this with.
As the little girl at the end of "Miracle on 34th Street" (the original) said:
I believe. I believe. I believe.
That's a gorgeous house you provided a link for! We used to go to Vermont regularly since my sister and her husband owned a ski house there. It was near Mt. Snow. They worked and lived on Long Island, so when the kids came along, they found it too difficult to maintain two houses. Beautiful state. I would love to live there.
But, actually my dream is to have a beach house on the Long Island Sound. We used to rent one every summer when I was growing up. I still remember spending all day in my bathing suit and falling asleep to the sound of the waves.
But I'm told that's an impossible dream-too expensive. I already contacted a real estate agent and get e-mails from her from time to time with pictures of cute little houses that we can afford. But, NOT ONE of them has been on the water. I'm holding out. Retirement (for my husband) is a few years away. Retirement for ME is non-existent. I'll always have to maintain the house and feed people.
Caryl--what fork? Are you a north or south fork girl?
I know it's many years from now, but it's nice to have something to aspire to. I saw that house and just thought, that's it. I could see it ablaze with light during the holidays full of people I enjoy and that had me.
I believe, I believe, I believe.
North fork. We used to rent a tiny house near Wildwood State Park. You may have seen signs for it on your way to your Aunt's place. The east end of the north fork is still full of farms and quiet little towns. Love it.
I would love to buy the vacation house on Peaks Island in Maine that we rent every year. My husband's ex-in-laws used to own it, but sold it when they got divorced. We still go up there, but rent it from the new owners. There is a panel at the end of the cabinets in the kitchen that still has the outlines of his two kids' hands on it every year they went up, from about age 1 to age 13 for each. And, it has a huge, beautiful porch that is just crying out for some beautiful, comfortable furniture instead of the nasty, hard rocking chairs the new owners put out there!
Also, I would just like my stepkids to become responsible human beings that we don't have to worry about all the time, and for husband to live longer than I think he probably will, with his smoking habit and his avoidance of doctors.
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