Love that pic and floor plan, @Jolynne_Smyth. If we were to build on a lake, I would seriously consider that one. Love, love, love the porch which, for me, is the most important cabin feature. Good luck with your research. I think building is the best way to get what you truly want.
Perhaps for reference, the cabin that was built next to ours this summer just northeast of Sebago Lake in Maine was sold unfinished for $199K. All exterior work, electrical, HVAC, and well were complete, but the buyer has to install the septic system and finish the interior. We were tempted because it offered the opportunity to design a newer and more perfect interior, but we like the size and layout of ours more so we passed. I think that 2-acre property was a great deal, though.
ETA: This cabin is not a kit. It was built by a local builder who built most of the cabins on our road including ours.
As structural engineers, we put a note on our drawings that they can be used only for the specific project they were intended for. We know of one case where a client used them for a different project but we decided not to pursue legal action. Too much hassle.
Also extra risk of unknown, particularly for well and septic. In my area this can be especially so in the mountains, where people would want to build cabins. Iām guessing that the desirable lots with good access to towns are gone or very pricey.
We actually do know two couples, in other states, who bought a lot with existing older mobile home to build a vacation place. That way water and septic are already there. Both couples intended to cart away the mobile home and build new. One did that using self designed plan and local builder. The other decided to fix up the existing mobile home, then maybe someday use it as guest place and build adjacent cabin. Both noted that a factor in lot selection was cell phone reception.
We looked at a modular house to replace a house we owned with ShawWifeās sister. It was going to be hard to do in terms of road access but we were able to build the house with a very good builder and ShawWifeās design for a surprisingly low amount of money ā much less than the cost of a modular home all things equal. It is a three BR house on a lake and it maximizes views of the lake and has very nice spaces. No basement because ShawWife is allergic to mold (which had infiltrated the since demolished house).
I have a number of friends in co housing who are plenty introverted and choose how much to participate in community life. They serve on committees and participate or not as desired. It works well for one couple I know where one half likes to stay home and the other enjoys dinners, etc. However the pandemic made it more like an apartment building with unused common spaces than a true co housing. They met on zoom like everyone else for the necessary meetings.
The ones in our area built for the purpose have rather nice if smaller individual units, energy efficient, and lovely large common spaces for the most part as well as guest space. One complex is garden oriented and all the common space is outside, which does not work well in the winter in this climate.
Co-housing can work a lot of ways. I think this is the co-housing neighborhood that I once read about in local newspaper. Looking at the photos, it seems it might work best for families with one car (or none). None currently listed for sale or rent, so no idea of price ā¦ but since Boulder is super pricey I assume very high. https://www.wildsagecohousing.org/ourcommunity.htm
Wondering if anyone has downsized and regretted getting rid of certain things?
Been home for a few days and looking at all the stuff in our basement and through the house & thinking (now that kids are mainly gone) - do we really need any of it?
The tubs of photos from hubās single years, the boxes of mementos from sonās elem/middle school years (that he doesnāt want in his new place), some clothes of my parents, extra pots and pans.
Was thinking - I could get rid of all of this and really travel light from here on out, with perhaps a few memory books to capture it all.
Donāt know if thereād be regrets though - and curious how others have handled the sentimental residual items?
In terms of physical photos, I spent part of my pandemic lockdown going through every single photo in the house. I threw out anything blurry, doubles and triples, pictures that didnāt add anything to the event, etc. My kitchen was piles of pictures for weeks. My throw away pile was massive, however, bigger than I thought it would be. I was left with the best of the best. I bought nice matching photo albums that fit nicely on my shelves. You might be surprised, if you do something like this, that you donāt have as many quality photos as you thought.
I did the photo cull a few years ago. Went from like 50 albums down to more like 25. My husband would love to digitize those, so we can get rid of more of the physical pictures. But we havenāt figured out an easy and quick way to do that.
I pay $45/month for a small storage unit where I have plastic containers with photo albums, videos of my daughterās professional dance performances, very small selection of kidsā school work, a few impossible to find books and CDās, and a few paintingsā¦ I travel very light: and thank heavens for public libraries!
I was left with family history documents. Since my kids donāt seem to care about any of that, Iām wondering if I should just pitch it all. My sibs could have taken these things, and didnāt.
I like the idea about going through all the photos and making some photo albums of only the best ones. My kids donāt seem to care about photos, either, but someday they might like to have some of them.
Regarding the kidsā school memorabilia: I sorted through it all, got rid of the real junk, and gave the rest to the kids themselves. Not in my house anymore.
Those very old photos that are tiny, like 2x2, that drive me nuts. There are some great shots but you need a magnifying glass to see them. No idea what to do with them. I guess I should go buy some albums but itās a daunting task.
We got rid of everything when we moved to our current house. We even chucked the old artificial Christmas tree to the curb still clamped to the tree stand and adorned with ornaments we didnāt want (we bought this house in December). When our son graduated and moved to GA, he got everything we could spare to help him furnish his apartment. We now have several empty closets and cabinets, nothing on most top shelves, and our attic has nothing but the new Christmas tree and five plastic bins of ornaments and decorations. I am not a hoarder and canāt stand clutter, so those empty spaces bring me peace. We also follow a general rule of any new thing in means an old thing out, no accumulating. DH is not as good at that as I am.
As for photos, we donāt have as many as some, just a few albums and shoeboxes. Over time, DH has culled through them and scanned them into a digital album plays on our TV when its on but idle so we can enjoy them without having to haul out the originals. Given that they are digitized, Iām considering throwing out any that donāt have any sentimental writing on the back, but I havenāt quite decided yet if thatās a good idea. Kinda like I canāt get rid of my library even though every book there is available online.
