my dream

My dream? A house in the quiet mountains with nobody around except the occasional friendly hiker or dog-walker. A couple big ol' dogs of my own, and maybe a kitten that the dogs can dote on. The house would be on property large enough for there to be a guest house out back, itself big enough to accommodate a whole family and equipped with bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a dining area—everything my guests would need to feel right at home.

Some of the people coming over would be there to learn how to cook. Some would be dear, old friends who simply want a quiet place to hang out and chill, to enjoy the nearby forest and forget about their troubles for a bit. My own house would have a huge space for the kitchen and dining room, not to mention an airy living room and a second floor with a mezzanine. The basement would also be big and complex—a place to store tons of personal items and have room for some sort of full-scale workshop where I'd be making wooden furniture or sculptures. There'd also be room in the basement for a well-ventilated gym furnished with weights, cardio and calisthenics equipment, climbing frames, and a heavy punching/kicking bag. I'd definitely want a den with a computer room, and maybe an entertainment center in its own separate room—but more for my guests, not for me. I've gone without TV for so long that I'm fine with just my computer and, I guess, my cell phone.

I'd plan my house so that I could die in it. There'd be a room that would eventually become my "hospice" room, and it'd have medical equipment, a special door, and sterilization protocols—everything needed for a guy who doesn't want to die in a hospital the way most of us do. It's not that I have a phobia about dying in a hospital; it's just that the thought depresses me. Dying in a hospital is such a typical way to go. That's how my mom went.

On my property, there'd be enough space for my animals to run about and for me to safely practice with my various firearms, bows, crossbows, and slingshots. The property lines would be well defined, thanks to a picket fence. Security for the house would vary depending on the terrain and the potential number of intruders, animal or human. Somewhere up in the mountains, there'd be a lake or two not far off, and maybe a river with banks where a person could sit and think Taoist thoughts.

The final chapters of my life are still a ways off, but they're closer now than ever before, and I'd like my life to end in peace and tranquility, with the sounds of nature all around. Living the last part of my life in the way partially described above would be a good ending for me.