A few of years ago we quietly made a big decision on where we would retire and put down roots finally.
We had been debt free for about 10 years and built a bit of a nest egg which would be used to buy the one and only home we would actually own. Moving with the Navy had us either in military housing or renting in town and never long enough to justify going into big debt with a home loan.
Where to retire? We discussed Japan. Our love of the country, the food and our time there, made it a real consideration. We considered Sicily, we felt a connection there too and Scotland was even a thought. Salt Lake City was thrown in, we felt at home there and had made great friends. What it came down to was our want to be near family as we grow older outweighed everything else and the bulk of our family is in Louisiana. We wanted to be around cousins for support and community as we grow into our twilight years and take the place of our elders. Add in that our grandchildren are also in the area. Also, LA doesn’t tax veterans hard and there is a decent VA system in place nearby.
So, we hired a realtor to help us find our home. After a few trips to visit family and secretly house hunt ( we kept it a secret for reasons ) we were getting discouraged with the options we were finding. Most of the homes that were a consideration needed a lot of changes to become what we wanted so I suggested to my husband the possibility of buying a lot and building a home. Scary thought! Could we do that from Utah?
It would give us more time to save money and prepare for the big move. There wasn’t really a rush, we figured if we bought a lot and took a few years to get the right plans and builder then build it we would have a lot of money saved up and could almost pay cash for it. So, the next trip to LA we found a great little area off the beaten path a bit but still 10 minutes to shopping, we grabbed two lots to give us a good separation from the next neighbor and paid cash.
Step 1 accomplished.
Step 2 – Plans Interrupted…coming up
Life Notes 
First of all, congratulations! It’s always encouraging to see how well you two work out plans together, which means retirement together will bode well for you both. The lot looks awesome — quiet, tranquil, and the woods look calming. The home Lisa and I bought last year has a wooded back yard that is a true blessing, and is always the first thing visitors compliment. Enjoy, and looking forward to the rest of the story.