Caution: Whine post ahead.

 I would like to have a place to live with a kitchen big enough two people can be in it and not feel crowded. I would like a kitchen big enough to have a gorgeous double range with griddle and one and a half ovens. I want a stove that doesn't have burners that tilt.

That is a 8" pan and is almost half the width of the stove.

Sigh.

I just want a (preferably) gas stove and oven that is level, functional and is wide enough to have two twelve inch pans at the same time without crowding. Don't get me started on a fridge and freezer.

I want to live somewhere I don't have to listen to yappy chihuahas or other dogs downstairs that bark at anything and everything that might move outside.

I want to live somewhere that doesn't have drift of cigarette smoke or incense or weed coming through the windows and every crack and opening in the building at night when things close up.

I am also wanting to live somewhere that hearing sirens first thing in the morning or last thing at night and any time in between is a regular occurrence.

I want a yard and dirt I can grow just about anything I want in including fruit trees and veggies. And yet I want all this and still have convenient access to stores and supply places.

Deep breath.

 I am thankful every day we have some place to live we can afford, glad it is in a place where there isn't 3 feet of snow on the ground or flooding. Thankful to have a man in my life that is on the same wavelength as I am (mostly heheh still not an Elvis fan). Very, very thankful for friends and family that have helped me out and us out over the years. I just never thought retirement as a 'grandma' would be like this. My imagination was fed by the old song: 'Over the hills and through the woods to grandma's house we go'.

My latest choice for an ideal house is this one:

America's Best Houseplans #8436-00054

 

49x60 1446 sq ft. Modern Farmhouse

Not anything fancy, only changes would be maybe make the garage opening in front and of course change bath/shower in Master bath to a step in shower with glass doors. Screen in the back patio to convert to an outdoor 'catio' for Rocky. Maybe more windows for the other bedrooms, which wouldn't be used as bedrooms of course. Craft room for me and 'man cave' for Jon. Dining area would be for 'office' space; computer and gaming area.

Notable features on this is the huge pantry, master bedroom walk in closet with attic access (though I might put the access in the garage instead). The overall size is actually smaller than the house I grew up in and the house I lived in when I was married. Seems weird the square footage is smaller and yet perfect size for us.

Now I'm not just daydreaming and thinking this will happen immediately ,or even ever, I have also looked at lots and land for sale, figured out how much space we would need for a house this size, looked at taxes for land, tried to find cost of prepping raw land (would prefer an actual lot already plumbed/serviced with sewer but have to consider options). So I'm not just looking at houseplans and dreaming, I'm actually looking at total cost up front and maintenance costs down the road. Oh something else to invest in would be, solar panels with back up battery, solar water heating, or possible well water with whatever that entails. Not entirely off the grid but close to it right? Of course can't have a natural gas stove if that isn't available but will do with the more expensive but more efficient induction range because if we have solar panels and even if we didn't the induction ranges are more efficient and safer.

There is a house building company that has houseplans for 'you to build on your own land' of course but what's the fun in that? There are options enough and time enough to figure things out and try to save money.  On a lark did the preliminary 'how much loan can I get' form on some site and if the information I provided was correct I can qualify for about $200k loan. Now that won't buy much in San Diego but it might just be enough to get something in Washington for a new mobile home.

Anyway... need to scrape some coins together to go buy a lottery ticket.