The Dream Takes Shape: Part I

I was catching up with some Facebook friends last week and my blogging and art friend Carmen shared, “Having an article and blog feature in this issue of Artful Blogging is a dream come true! What's on your list of dreams?” I shared with you one of my dreams in my Purple Cottage post. Then I told you I’d be checking out a piece of property I’ve been watching for quite a while in this post. I’ve admitted here before that I haven’t totally bought into the whole “universe bringing you what you desire” concept just yet, but some little things here and there have been leading me more towards believing that, and my little visit to check out this property was a big knock on the head! I’ve known the property since college; it’s been unoccupied for at least 15 years. In that 15 years, it’s also never been for sale. So, guess what? The first time I go over to seriously take a look at it? Yep, big For Sale sign right up front. Here are a few pictures.

Walking around the property, I was able to really think through my dream, standing right there…right where it could actually happen. There are 10 small cottages and two small-house type structures on about 3.5 acres with 700’ waterfront footage and two docks with 16 boat slips, and then another 4 acres of undeveloped land across the street. All the structures, as well as the docks, are in good solid shape; they just need some TLC and cosmetic enhancements. So what would I do with it? The cottages would remain just as they were initially meant to be used, for lodging. They are all about efficiency size, though I’d put double queens in each for bedding to allow for more flexibility. I’d renovate one of the larger buildings into a classroom/workshop space and the other into a cafĂ©/gallery space with “front office” facilities. I’d use the facility as a whole for all-inclusive art retreats, wellness retreats, and corporate team-building retreats. While the cottages are not being used for retreats, the facility would essentially be a B & B, targeting couples/families and/or corporate big wigs looking for a unique, peaceful getaway. We’d have charter fishing services available for both the retreat attendees (thinking bored husbands/boyfriends here) and B & B guests. We’d subdivide the property across the street so it remains deeded separately from the “business” property since that’s where we’d build our houses.

I have a close friend I’ve been thinking this through with. Kath has been a high level exec with Coca-Cola since we graduated from college and is ready to escape from the corporate world. We are the perfect team for this. I have the retreat planning, leadership, team-building, and art background, and she has the wellness, business and corporate contacts background. Our husbands would handle the excursions, dining and general maintenance aspects. She also has twin boys who would grow up having the hots for my twin redheads. :-)

So back to Madame Universe and her connection to the property and my current employment. As I was driving over to see the property, I got the call to schedule my final interview for my position of choice. Then, boom. The next morning, there’s this big For Sale sign staring me in the face. My dream, right there ready to happen. That was a Friday; my interview was scheduled for first thing Monday morning. Interesting timing, don’t you think? When I didn’t get the offer for my first choice, that For Sale sign popped back into my head. Maybe that was part of my message that a new job was not the right thing for me right now. I’ve always been one to follow my gut, and once my top choice was off the table, I knew I needed to stay where I was.

So what’s next? What’s next is to just keep the dream alive while we work through the possibilities. The property is currently listed for $1.6 million, but given the economy, the amount of time it’s been sitting there, the fact the most others interested in it would probably be knocking down what’s there and starting from scratch, and what I’ve learned from others who have property in the area, I think we could get them down under $1 million. So we’ll see what happens. Initially I hesitated sharing my thoughts with you here, because once you put it out there, it’s out there for anyone to snag, right? But then I realized that if you don’t share your dreams with others, how can they help you get there? This particular piece of property may work out, and it may not, but it’s made me realize that I can do this...if not with this property, then with another. For now, though, baby steps. Still working out the details on my first baby steps, but I’ll share those with you soon! In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on my initial plan.

13 comments:

Gina Lee Kim said...

OMGosh. While reading this I was TOTALLY thinking mixed media art retreat! Oh Kelly...things are aligning for you. Keep us posted. Keep your dream alive.

Cristi Baxter Clothier said...

Awesome dream,Kelly! I can see this coming to fruition some day soon. The property looks incredible! I agree with Gina on the art retreat vision.

Teresa said...

I love your dream. I found you by chance as you posted a comment on Jaime Ridler's wishcast post today as did I. I am glad I found my way to your lovely blog! And I was taken away to a dreamy place by your dream. Hearing other people bravely speaking and sometimes enacting their dreams gives me the courage for all of those pent up "wish list" aspirations of my own. Write a memoir. Publish a complementary therapy manual. Create an alternative mental health conference. And the list could, and does, go on. Thanks for reminding me to continue dreaming big--because even if the timing is or isn't right at the moment for whatever we have on our wish lists, it is always good to be reminded and reinvigorated about what we want. It helps us to better cultivate our own courage to go out and get it.

Glad I found your blog. Feel free to drop by mine any time at http://myembodiment.wordpress.com

Interestingly enough I was thinking about writing a post about taking command of our lives, doing the things we think should be done, and not waiting for someone else to do it for us or instead of us. Perhaps tomorrow's post will reflect on that and on your shared dream as a reflection of making our lives what we want them to be--living boldly!

Teresa

cath c said...

fantastic! and i swear i will schedule a writing retreat when you're up and running!!!!!

tami said...

Go for it! NE Florida needs a place like that. . . you could do an art and soul type retreat. How exciting!!

e.beck.artist said...

oh my gawrsh ... AWESOME dream .. love it ... do it ... that all just seems too too too fabulous!

Karen Faulkner said...

I love it, and I love that you believe in being a follower of dreams. May all of them come true!

Lauren Maurer said...

MmmmmHmmmmm!! This is very very cool, Kelly! Keep us updated!

Carmen said...

Oh my goodness Kelly!!! I got chills reading your dream. Thank you for sharing. I can see it as if it were already a done deal... can't you? Come on, visualize with me! I'm giddy thinking of the possibilities for you... and this isn't even my dream, although being a part of retreats - art, coaching, dream casting, etc. very much is a dream of mine.

Sorry for all the blubbering... I'm just so excited at the possibility of having a place like that right here in Florida!!!

Please keep me in the loop and feel free to call me and share all of your wildest dreams any time.

xo,
Carmen

granmamimi said...

Kelly, I just finished reading your blog and felt so good inside, I was just tingling! You have a gift of so many words, aspirations and talent, I am blessed to be on your site to read the excitement in your thoughts and dreams. I believe God places things in front of us to make us aware of His presence and for you to grasp those things to express his love for us all!
Blessings,
Mimi

circleinthesand said...

Good Lord, Kelly, you're awesome!! If anybody can make this dream come true, it's you!!

Kippy Hammond said...

Kelly, This is a note to encourage you to keep your dream alive. I, too, had a dream.... www.labonneetoile.com and you can count on me if you need a pastel workshop instructor... www.kippyhammond.com

Jenny Wynter said...

Kelly, I am MEGA INSPIRED! And that is a total understatement! Ah! Wow! So great to see this is possible, how incredible - thank you so much for sharing this and putting it out there. I see this was written a little while back, am about to check out more recent entries for an update! Woohoo! :)