Dream fulfilled....sort of.

(re-posted from my Facebook page)

I've been spending the weekend with my girlfriend at an AirBnB we affectionately call "the Oasis". We stayed here last year and loved it. Last year, we rented a room in the house, but mostly spent our time in the beautiful back yard. This year, in the age of Covid-19, we rented the little casita in the back yard. And we are still enjoying the beautiful back yard!

I've had the same dream for years. In fact, when I look back through old visualization notebooks, I see it throughout my history. My dream is to own a house with a back yard swimming pool and a separate hot tub.

I owned a house with a back yard hot tub many years ago, and it was awesome! I would start every day by taking a dip in the hot tub. I know most people find a hot tub to be relaxing, but for me, the warm water loosens my achy joints and invigorates me. I started my day in the hot tub and, occasionally, ended my day there, too.

Now, my goal is to have access to my own private pool. And honestly, it would have significant therapeutic benefits for me. Being able to swim and exercise in water is very effective for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The resistance of the water without the jarring and pounding of weight-bearing exercise is the ideal. And having access to a pool each day, several times a day, would be wonderful.

In fact, in the last 3 days, having taken multiple dips in the swimming pool (and actually swimming) as well as in the hot tub, I feel less pain, more limber, stronger, and have better balance. The effects are amazing and immediate!

So, while this isn't living my dream, these last few days have been tasting my dream. And it tastes delicious!

I now renew my goal to put myself in financial position to make this dream a reality in the next 24 months. I believe two things strongly: that real estate prices are inflated in my area and that prices will drop in the next 12 - 24 months as evictions and foreclosures from the pandemic take effect. It's not that I wish for the economy to turn; I just feel strongly that it will.

I would welcome any and all suggestions for how I can make my dream come true (except for network marketing schemes :-) ). I'm especially interested in fundraising and income producing ideas that I can initiate and manage from my laptop and cell phone.

I am sure people question why I'm not a homeowner now, or not better off financially. I've questioned it, too. It took a lot of honest review and pride-swallowing to admit that it's because of my RA. Essentially, I've lived alone, independently, all my life (that's not due to RA; that's by choice, although may be tied to the RA). Even when I was married briefly, my wife was not an asset, but a financial liability. I've worked hard to maintain my independence, in order to prove my ability to take care of myself. But I've also had 8 major orthopedic surgeries since standing on my own (I'm not counting the wrist replacement surgery when I was 17 years old and still living with Mom and Dad). Each of those surgeries interfered with my ability to earn money.

Additionally, the drain of living with RA meant that I did not have the energy to rise through the ranks and increase my income. Don't get me wrong. I'm very proud of what I've done and what I've accomplished, but there's no doubt it has been an uphill battle.

I'm trying to work smarter now. I also want to get my ideas on paper to share with others in the form of a book that I am slowly working on. (very slowly. sadly, it's been very, very slowly - but one day I will get some good momentum going)

So, again, any suggestions for ways I can reach my longtime goal are much appreciated. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll take another dip in the pool. Isn't it inviting?