We already have a vacation home *insert embarrased face here* BUT its in Florida and its a condo.
We would maybe build a cottage where our boat is kept (about an hour from our house) but we've also discussed buying something in either Maui or Kauai so probably there.
Definitely in the Santa Cruz/Capitola area. Just about a 1/2 hour away so perfect for heading over for the weekends. I have a few friends who have places there and they go all the time.
Option 1: Large house on the coast in southern Maine. That would probably take all the $$$.
Option 2: Buy a cottage on a lake less than an hour away. Use the remainder of the money for a house in the Caribbean on the water. Some place to go in the summer, some place to go in the winter.
Probably a small, semi-private lake in the Adirondacks. While it would be close to family, I'd probably get it just because I'm not really a beach person. I prefer woods, lakes, quiet, hiking, swimming. Not sun and heat. I think the Adirondacks are also a good place to vacation nearly year-round.
Or I'd get something on a loch in Scotland. Same concept. I like the weather. Just further away.
We already have a vacation home *insert embarrased face here* BUT its in Florida and its a condo.
We would maybe build a cottage where our boat is kept (about an hour from our house) but we've also discussed buying something in either Maui or Kauai so probably there.
Its on the lake, so its great in the summer, but its also near Blue Mountain for skiing in the winter.
Don't be embarrassed! I lived QUITE the middle class existence as a kid and we had a vacation home. My mom inherited it (the property has been in her family since the 1930s). My mom used to not work during the summer, and it was 200 miles from our regular house, so... My dad lives there full time now. It has 50 feet of lake front on Lake Ontario.
When you say, "Oh, we're going to our summer house," though, people have quite a different impression than what the reality might be. I get it.
BUT I do roll my eyes when I see people buying 5 bedroom, 3 bath "vacation" homes on House Hunters. Our vacation home was 1000 square feet and had 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I mean, it's not supposed to be NICER than you regular house, right? It's just for vacation.
Don't be embarrassed! I lived QUITE the middle class existence as a kid and we had a vacation home. My mom inherited it (the property has been in her family since the 1930s). My mom used to not work during the summer, and it was 200 miles from our regular house, so... My dad lives there full time now. It has 50 feet of lake front on Lake Ontario.
When you say, "Oh, we're going to our summer house," though, people have quite a different impression than what the reality might me. I get it.
BUT I do roll my eyes when I see people buying 5 bedroom, 3 bath "vacation" homes on House Hunters. Our vacation home was 1000 square feet and had 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I mean, it's not supposed to be NICER than you regular house, right? It's just for vacation.
Haha I know what you mean. My parents have a house on a lake in the West Va mountains (its gorgeous out there) but I think when I tell people I am going to my parents lakehouse it sounds a bit nicer than it actually is lol.
Then again, I had a conversation this weekend with a woman who owns a vacation home in Colorado and her phrasing was "its only 1900 square feet, its not that big or nice or anything" (but they can literally put their skis on and go.) People have different perspectives I guess.
And Eloise - I love Wrightsville! we went there once when I was in college and it was so nice. I liked it better than Myrtle Beach but found the water to be a bit rougher (stronger currents).
I would buy a house in Casacais, Portugal. It is only an hour in plane from my house now but I think it is far enough that I wouldnt have to worry about my in-laws stopping by.
I vacationed there a year ago and fell in love with that little town. It was so lovely, easy, and relaxing. We hope to go back again in a few years.
I think Id get a big beautiful home on the water on Cape Cod. NOT on the ocean though, on a bay or something, and with real actual beach access not "beach access." $2.5mil will about cover it. Wont get me a mansion or anything like that either up there! Nice and close by - 2.5-4 hrs depending on the area.
Cape Cod is what we would do. It's not close enough to drive every weekend - the drive this year just about killed me, but it would be worth it. I think we'd pick somewhere in Chatham.
Don't be embarrassed! I lived QUITE the middle class existence as a kid and we had a vacation home. My mom inherited it (the property has been in her family since the 1930s). My mom used to not work during the summer, and it was 200 miles from our regular house, so... My dad lives there full time now. It has 50 feet of lake front on Lake Ontario.
When you say, "Oh, we're going to our summer house," though, people have quite a different impression than what the reality might me. I get it.
BUT I do roll my eyes when I see people buying 5 bedroom, 3 bath "vacation" homes on House Hunters. Our vacation home was 1000 square feet and had 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I mean, it's not supposed to be NICER than you regular house, right? It's just for vacation.
Haha I know what you mean. My parents have a house on a lake in the West Va mountains (its gorgeous out there) but I think when I tell people I am going to my parents lakehouse it sounds a bit nicer than it actually is lol.
Then again, I had a conversation this weekend with a woman who owns a vacation home in Colorado and her phrasing was "its only 1900 square feet, its not that big or nice or anything" (but they can literally put their skis on and go.) People have different perspectives I guess.
And Eloise - I love Wrightsville! we went there once when I was in college and it was so nice. I liked it better than Myrtle Beach but found the water to be a bit rougher (stronger currents).
The currents can be strong- which is great for surf, but another great feature of the south end of the island is if you go to the very end, where the intracoastal ww starts, there is a huge beach, with practically no waves. It's perfect for little kids.
Also, my family has several vacation homes. Me and my H don't have $$, but we can get free beach house use often whenever we want. My parents rent out their beach houses, but we are allowed anytime there aren't renters. They just want the houses to get used instead of sitting empty.
Wawa- I prefer Bethany to Rehobeth if you are going the DE beach route.
Hey...totally unrelated, but it's my post and I'll sidebar if I want to: Pesca, how did that lacatation stout turn out?
Ditto Pesca on the plan and the brew was good, came in at 3.25% and was tasty. Let me know if you want the recipe.
Yup, the low alcohol was key because my tolerance tanked with pregnancy. Not sure if it's feasible for you, but I also recommend a keg. Less work and you can pour smaller portions.
Ditto Pesca on the plan and the brew was good, came in at 3.25% and was tasty. Let me know if you want the recipe.
Yup, the low alcohol was key because my tolerance tanked with pregnancy. Not sure if it's feasible for you, but I also recommend a keg. Less work and you can pour smaller portions.
H's been pushing to make the switch to kegging - maybe we'll ask for a GC to our homebrew shop for christmas or our birthdays to get the equipment and finally make the jump.
We already have a vacation home *insert embarrased face here* BUT its in Florida and its a condo.
We would maybe build a cottage where our boat is kept (about an hour from our house) but we've also discussed buying something in either Maui or Kauai so probably there.
Its on the lake, so its great in the summer, but its also near Blue Mountain for skiing in the winter.
Don't be embarrassed! I lived QUITE the middle class existence as a kid and we had a vacation home. My mom inherited it (the property has been in her family since the 1930s). My mom used to not work during the summer, and it was 200 miles from our regular house, so... My dad lives there full time now. It has 50 feet of lake front on Lake Ontario.
When you say, "Oh, we're going to our summer house," though, people have quite a different impression than what the reality might be. I get it.
BUT I do roll my eyes when I see people buying 5 bedroom, 3 bath "vacation" homes on House Hunters. Our vacation home was 1000 square feet and had 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I mean, it's not supposed to be NICER than you regular house, right? It's just for vacation.
I definitely think a vacation home isn't supposed to be big or fancy. I'd actually be quite content with a trailer in a park somewhere on a lake. LOL. I doubt that DH would let that fly though.
The condo we have is a 1bed 1 bath. We rent it out full time. We're in the process of buying another one to do the same thing with. Then, eventually we will sell both and take that $$ to buy a winter house somewhere. For us, a summer house isn't really needed - we have a boat. BUT a winter house to escape the winter when we are retired will be a must!!
I have family in california so I'd love to have a place there, but Florida is so much closer and cheaper it will probably be Florida again.
It would be a REALLY hard decision. However I think I'd seriously consider buying this home and moving my in-laws with me. Then I'd be close to my mom and M would be close to a bunch of "cousins" (my mom's fiance's kids). www.homes.com/listing/168689495/939_Riverbend_Ave_POWELL_OH_43065
And I'd use some to buy a sweet 3-4 bedroom townhome inside the loop in Houston so I could come down and hang with my friends for extended periods of time. It'd have 1 bedroom down so my IL's could also stay there if they wanted, and of course a room for M, a master for us, and one extra guest room in case my mom, in-laws, DH and I and M would all want to be in H-town at the same time.
and it's things like this that test my resolve on my imaginary local vacation home.
I think this is the kind of place I'd rather rent though. I want a set landing spot close to my family and friends for weekends through the summer, and then when they're all back to the grind I'll jet off to france.
Because I'm imaginary rich, so I can do what I want.
I think Id get a big beautiful home on the water on Cape Cod. NOT on the ocean though, on a bay or something, and with real actual beach access not "beach access." $2.5mil will about cover it. Wont get me a mansion or anything like that either up there! Nice and close by - 2.5-4 hrs depending on the area.
Cape Cod is what we would do. It's not close enough to drive every weekend - the drive this year just about killed me, but it would be worth it. I think we'd pick somewhere in Chatham.
See chatham is sooo nms. Way way way too popular and busy! We were up in East Orleans last month and it was really nice.. better shopping (aka not packed, not all tourist trinkets etc), quieter, you have the beach and Sundae School mmm.
Last yr we did falmouth in sept, and are again this sept. It was AMAZING. I dont know how it is during the summer but off season it was great! GOod food, SO much closer to drive, and we stayed at a house with a bay beach. Perfection. Plus close to make day trips to MV
Post by basilosaurus on Aug 7, 2012 16:14:14 GMT -5
I'm not sure if I'd want a vacation home. I think I'd prefer just to travel, maybe rent someone else's home. However, I grew up sort of with one. Every summer we'd live with our family in the Bahamas, so it was a full time home for them, but there was space enough for us to use. I freaking loved it. So I'm torn, because I'd want that, but it's not a possibility to recreate it since I'll never live near family.
We just spent a week with the ILs on a lake in Maine that was fantastic. My dream vacation home would be on that lake, but with a few more amenities (there was a bathroom that was only recently added and only had a small shower with exposed hoses running along the walls and an oven that had handwritten number 3, 4, and 5 on it, so baking was pretty much out of the question). But a house on the water with views of the mountains and a screened-in porch would be awesome.
I have no interest in a vacation home. Even with millions of dollars, I don't want the added responsibility for taxes and upkeep, and I'd much rather travel to different places or rent a home in a location if it was somewhere I wanted to return to regularly.
I suppose I could be talked in to a fractional ownership somewhere, if it were someplace I wanted to spend chunks of time at annually.
I kind of agree with this. I like the idea of going somewhere different all the time and having a "vacation home" makes me feel like that's where I always have to go.
That being said, I do have a small house (2/1) in Western MA that I inherited when my grandmother died and plan on using it as a second home in a couple years. Right now I rent it to pay the taxes and for some of the work it needed to have done. I hope to be able to bring the boys up to see my family for a month every summer, but I also don't really consider visiting my family a vacation. I am there right now (in a house I rented on vrbo.com) and it's as stressful for me as it is fun for the kids. 8-D