We Began with Dirt

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

In October of 2022, we bought some dirt in the mountains. The plot of land is just over 2 acres, and has an amazing view of this mountain range.

This was the first step in a long-held dream that Jennifer and I have to find a place for us to live a quiet lifestyle in nature, away from the stresses of city life and a retreat for our kids and maybe someday grandkids. With our nest emptying and two kids now on the East Coast (Boston and Nashville), we wanted a place we could gather for holidays, celebrate milestones and summer holidays. We also wanted a place where we could be near my parents and spend more time together after decades of being so distant.

After looking at some options we found this place and it seems perfect.

Now for the Hard Part

Finding the plot of land was relatively easy. We had a great realtor who helped us in the process. We recognized that building a house remotely would be a significant undertaking, entailing hundreds of decisions and hours of time.

So as soon as we closed on the land (October 19, 2022), we began the search for a builder. We also began to think about how the design of the house would fit with the land. The land is on a slope, down to a creek which is the back border. It became apparent that the terrain called for a two story-house with a daylight basement, the back side of the house viewing the mountain range.

A Note on The Blog

We created this blog to document the journey and to remember the highs and lows along the way. We are also looking for feedback on the many decisions we have to make including design, furnishings and landscaping. We look forward to comments and ideas.