Beginnings

Dreams of "home" have taken on many shapes through my life. Having grown up as a military kid, and married to a military man, I have lived in 21 (?) homes. Some temporary, some long-term, a couple times as a long-term guest of another family member. Trailers (3), military housing (7), apartments (2), dorms (multiple- military and boarding school), private homes (5). And I'm sure I've miscounted something somewhere, but you get the idea. Through all those changes, my ideas of a "dream home" have certainly changed in accordance with the stage of life, experience in different styles of housing, and geographic location. Our current home definitely fulfilled a dream as it is the first home actually purchased by Sid and I, chosen to suit our needs, in a location of our choosing.

We've been here 20 years next summer, 4 times longer than my second-longest home. Just thinking about staying put so long still seems like a foreign concept, and it does not feel like it's been that long. Growing up in a transient military life, and marrying a military man, there-by "dooming" my first-born to the same life, created a dream of bringing up kids in place where they could put down roots, strong roots where they could draw support and nourishment from a wide base of people who have watched them grow up. Where they could have best friends who were life-long friends, and "second moms" in their best friend's homes. This house has provided that for my second- and third-born. As I watched their experience, and talked to friends who take this as a given, I have come to appreciate the wide exposure to life experience that my own upbringing provided. I also appreciate the wonderful, deep, long friendships I have been able to form here, something I never really experienced before.

Now it's time for another change. With our youngest now an adult and looking to move out soon, we are ready to make the move to our next home. One that will allow for us to grow old without stairs. (Our current home is a 4-level split, which we have seen be a real obstacle to senior family members.) One that can create memories for our grandkids that are similar the memories we cherish of our own grandparent's homes. Land to run on, woods to explore, wildlife to watch.

We are looking for land locally, and what we want is hard to come by. Woods, not farm fields. Big enough for target shooting without danger to others, close enough to town to not have to change churches and all the other regular things of daily life. On paved road to accommodate the motorcycle, but not a busy road. We have looked at and considered several lots, most before we were financially ready to move forward. Presently we are watching a piece that checks all our boxes except for price. Hopefully by spring they will be ready to come down a bit.

We have our floor plans. After years of drawing dream houses, of discussing options and conflicting wishes, we finally agreed on a plan. The architect has been hired, and the first set of blueprints are being produced. It's a 1.5 story, with a gambrel roof. One-level living downstairs, with guest space and a large sewing room upstairs. This blog will follow our progress. News will be sparse at first as there won't be much to write about until we have land,  but I'll keep you informed as I journal our adventure.