Hanging out in Durango.....or thereabouts

I met up with Kent and Hannah last Wed at the property we're thinking about buying near Durango, CO.  They were renting out one of the little cabins overlooking Lake Vallecito.  I stayed in my RV at a nearby campground.  Here's a shot of the lake with the mountains in the background.

Lake Vallecito in the Summer

This part of the country is simply beautiful with lovely weather to go with it compared to what we're used to in Houston this time of year.

Reid flew into Durango from Googleland on Friday and we all explored the property and strategized the fun things we could do with it.  We thought about opening a coffee house with WIFI in the house/store up front to hang Mom, Kent and Hannah's artwork for tourists and the locals.  I'm dreaming about demolishing a few cabins and replacing them with tiny houses.  Kent's dreaming about refurbishing some of the cabins to make them winter-able.  There's the house/store and seven cabins so we can each fulfill our dreams as long as the money holds out or the winters don't scare us away.

Kent's rendering of our own intentional community

Besides all the dreaming, we've also visited with the folks in Planning, Building Codes, San Juan Basin Health Department (busy with the Animas River debacle), Community Development, etc.  This particular area around the lake (a man made reservoir created in the 40's) has been there the longest and has hodge podge cabins all along the lake before stricter codes were developed in the 70's to regulate density and setbacks.  We don't care because we like the laid back, lake front, seasonal village atmosphere as long as we can make the improvements we want to make.

In addition to living there, we would like to rent out cabins as a business for potential income and tax advantages.

So, since May 4th, I've visited about 10 intentional communities--a couple of them twice.  I've enjoyed traveling around in my tiny home--the Navion.  With the emergence of this property, I'm gravitating towards starting my own community with my family and continuing the simpler, down-sized lifestyle in a part of the country that has four seasons.  We've even got my Mom considering a move from where she lives NW of Houston.  I've found that RV's are great but I'd like to put down roots.  While I could continue to explore other parts of the US, I can't imagine any other place as affordable and beautiful with people I already know and love.  

Kent's wife Lydia is coming for a look this weekend.  I've done about as much research as I can think to do.  We should be in a position to make an offer soon.  Time will tell if this one is meant to be or not to be as I continue my search for a simpler life.  

Prologue:  I had to include a funny piece of video I captured of my niece Hannah who helped me come up with a creative option for a new gadget.  Have a look here: