Never too old to Dream

At the almost age of 59, slightly slipping health, this is the question I ponder today. It's been an interesting life, with a good balance of ups and downs. For a great number of years, things seemed to just fall in my lap. And I ran with it. Always meeting and getting to know more people, it has been wonderful that way. Went with the flow. I never really "planned". You see so many people at their jobs yet know so little, if anything about them. It has been wonderful to learn about individuals, get to know them on different levels, forming so many connections !

Often I think, I could have done better. Perhaps that thought is a huge rabbit hole. Down to 1 part-time job and some casual "self employment" for income, I struggle to get ahead. For a number of years, the income was far less than living expenses. Now is the time to clean that up. This last year has been going well, even if I am feeling burned out.

Somehow, for whatever reason, I feel a need for bigger goals. One step at a time, each time period leading to another part completed.

The big end goal is what I question. Or does it even matter ? In the four or five years this could take to complete, I've come to realize, even if we get the first two or three years completed as planned, perhaps by then our wishes and needs will change.

What has me feeling good is, each phase completed, whether the end goal changes or not, each phase will be like a goal completed in itself.

The plan for year one and two, clear off all the debt I can. We have a crumbling property at the lake, during these two years of debt clearing mode, we can also do "property clearing". Cleaning it up and preparing the ground for a solid foundation. This will not cost much, maybe the fuel to run out there and back, a little fill for the soft ground. We could also maybe sell some things on the property to cover those costs. De-construct the house that is there, perhaps some things can be saved and re-purposed, either in the new house or perhaps a guest house or greenhouse. The possibilities are endless.

By year three, we should be almost, if not completely, debt free.

At this stage, we can revisit the main end goal. If we decide to go ahead, we have all the property prep work done, and much more disposable income to work with to build that new home. By this time, we can decide how much we have and want to spend, then, how big do we want to go. May not want to go too big as the upkeep and cleaning could get to be too much.

Guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

If we have a change of heart in goal, we can still be happy , the property will be more "saleable" and at least we've cleared up a lot of debt. And the property will look so much better !

Life is always, in my opinion, more fun and exciting when you have something to look forward to, something you are working towards. It puts a purpose and some bounce in your step. A reason to get up in the morning.

So yes, I am going to keep dreaming. The plan is in place. And if we change plans half way through, it's still something to look forward to.