Cher

No brainer -- Already made the decision and have never regretted it: TRAVEL!

My husband and I live modestly and use the money we don't spend on a dream house on travel. We've never regretted it, even when we visit the "dream homes" of many of our friends and family (who are often so "house poor" they don't have any funds left over to enjoy much else in life besides their house). We've traveled all over and have tons of experiences and memories. It's also been great because we have so much fun when we travel together ...

The more we travel, the more we want to travel, and the more willing we are to continue to live more modestly in order to experience more travel. Many people we know have really not traveled much, so it's often easier for them to say they would prefer a dream house because they simply don't know what they're missing.

It's very personal and it would be great to do both, but sometimes you just have to choose in life. Also, you never know what kind of curve ball life will throw your way and you won't be able to travel d/t health problems (yours or a close family member), job loss, can't get time off, etc. And even though my home is modest, I can assure that I enjoy coming home to it just as much as I would a dream house.

I prefer to fill my life with new experiences in life while I can -- just my nature!

GoTravel

I never really wanted a 'dream' home and have always wanted something small so my vote goes to travel.

We live on the beach but in a two bedroom house that was built in the 1950s. I call it my hovel by the sea.

SAnParis

Congrats Pat, perhaps we'll be neighbors some day. In the meantime, I'm packing for my next trip (leave for the Caribbean on Sunday).

Pat2003

Hi Cher and GoTravel, thank you for your posts. You see, for us a dream house doesn't mean a big house. My dream house wouldn't be large but have plenty of closet space, huge deck, separate walk-in closets and bathrooms for my husband and myself, one guest bedroom, library, many big windows, plenty of trees all around, easy access to hiking trails. We are fortunate enough we won't have to give up travels because we are building a house. Only during construction we won't go so frequently on long trips. Instead of 10-12 trips per year we may take 3-4 during construction. We are still going to Paris, but instead of staying two weeks we would spend 5-7 days, for instance. Further, as someone suggested we would take many short or only overnight trips close to home. We won't stay in Ritz. Well, we had never stayed there anyway. It is not our cup of tea but Marriott's Residence Inns or Holiday Inn Express are fine with us. My husband and I would never give up traveling so we can have a big house. Only for two years we decided to travel less.

Pat2003

SAnParis, thank you for your kind words. Maybe we can have GTG once our house is finished. Where are you going in the Caribbean? We are going on our first trip to Cayman Islands in April/May. Have a great trip!

SAnParis

We leave for St. Maarten & Montserrat on Sunday. It would be good to have a western NC GTG. The last one ended up in Raleigh I think but there are several posters on here from Charlotte as well as the Asheville area. Best of luck w/your home. I know (as I am currently building) that it can be a most exhausting experience. Our 'dream homes' seem to share several characteristics, maybe I can steal your plans when you're done.

1JAR

Travel..I'd buy a condo on the Residensea.....studies have prooven comparable to the cost of Nursing HOme/Long term care..and they make my bed, fix my meals and there is a Doctor on board

amwosu

Built the "dream house" 6 years ago- huge house, all the amenities I desired, big wooded yard. Took over 2 years to design, construct, decorate, and landscape.

Now our lives have changed- kids are more and more independent & will be out of the house soon, salaries continue to increase, bought a second place in another state.

We no longer want or need the size of the house or the 40 garbage bags full of leaves that fall every two weeks in the fall. Within 18-24 months we're downsizing to a townhouse with no yard so we can travel regularly and for long periods and not worry about the yard and the empty house.

travelina

Travel hands down. I know alot of people who are "house poor"..everything goes to the home and nothing leftover to enjoy. I much prefer a smaller yet comfortable home as possessions are just that... but memories --especially vacation memories--truly last a lifetime. I second the comment made by SAnPARIS that "tomorrow" may never come. I have lost two young friends within the past month unexpectedly. At one of the funerals, the little boy made a video collage of him and his Dad (who passed away) on all their fabulous vacations together! What a tribute and a wonderful memory for a boy who lost his father way too early...

highflyer

Pat you're very lucky as you're really doing both....3 or 4 trips during construction rather than 10-12 trips a year is certainly cutting back for you but isn't really "not travelling".
I'm sure your construction years will fly by and you'll have plenty of time to plan those extra trips when it's over plus your dream home to relish coming home to....

I can't have my dream home at the moment (small hovel on a beach sounds idyllic) but we can travel until my kids allow us to move!

cabovacation

I would prefer to travel. I am a real estate agent - yet I could hardly care less about where I live. However, we live in the Bay Area (SF) and a dream home is not what it might be elsewhere. At this point in time, beach property is for the very rich.

I do understand and appreciate how important a home is to most people, and it has been a real pleasure to be able to add value to that aspect of people's lives.

Try to do both! Building is a HUGE project. Just live long enough to be able to travel afterwards!

Sounds like you can't really lose with this dilemma! Have fun!

ncgrrl

amwosu wrote:

the 40 garbage bags full of leaves that fall every two weeks in the fall.

I'm thinking what a lovely compost pile I could have. If you live anywhere near me I'd be glad to take the leaves. I wish I had more tress so I could have a killer compost pile. You could even have the bags back.

amwosu

hey ncgrrl- we scoop the leaves into bags (just getting them out of the front yard and out of all our landscaping is a major job) then dump them in our back yard in the very heavily wooded area. I've always wanted to use them to sort of make paths with through the woods but I'm always so sick of leaves that we just do the quickest thing possible. Human nature to want what we don't have.

ncgrrl

Sorry Pat2003 for hijacking the thread.

amwosu, back in the day when the whole family had to rake the yard (pre-leaf blower) Dad would lay out a piece of burlap and we would all rake onto the burlap. Then he would pull up the corners and carry it to the compost pile. If you don't have burlap, a tarp will do. Much easier than trying to rake/blow into a bag.

amwosu

GREAT idea ncgrrl!

JJ5

ncgirl, in MI we get the largest boat (it's a huge rectangle)tarp and all of the neighbors take turns laying it down between houses- we all push the leaves on it and then the men drag the entire to a huge compost pile in one of the back prairies (about 100 feet away). 5 houses do this with one tarp. If you're not "there" on the day they tarp the leaves, they do it for you.

BayouGal

Pat2003, what a delightful person you are with such a great attitude . . . I have enjoyed reading your posts in MANY places on this board.

ncgrrl, I would have glady shared my leaves and straw with you until we lost over 300 trees to Katrina. I wonder if in my lifetime the trees will return to provide the beauty, shade, etc., they once did.

JJ5, what a great cooperative neighborhood you have!

Thanks for the great thread, Pat!

ink

I would rather travel. Plus i prefer old houses anyway. but its what you want for the long term that matters.

Pat2003

BayouGal, you are so sweet. Thanks

Pat2003

Thank you again to all of you who shared very personal thoughts. Happy travels

P.S. We are in a process of interviewing architects, home designers, general contractors, builders. In the end of April we are going to Cayman Islands.