Saturday, August 31, 2024
People find a lot of ways to spend their free time. There are those who like to enjoy visual experiences like going to museums or art galleries. Others prefer to participate in sporting activities like playing golf or perhaps fishing and hunting. Still, others enjoy going to the movies, or hiking, or even “collecting.”
It seems the popularity of some of the ways we expend time runs in cycles. For instance, when I was a young boy, crocheting was something that a great many women did to pass the time of day. I can still see both my grandmothers sitting in their respective rockers crocheting. It was something which would occupy their time but at the same time serve a useful purpose like creating a blanket for a new grandchild. It has been years since I have seen someone crochet, but I was recently informed that crochet is making quite a comeback and has become quite a fad with the younger folks.
Another new craze is a game called “Pickleball,” which has burst on to the activities scene and created a huge stir of excitement. Pickleball courts are being built everywhere, and folks by the tens of thousands have become passionate participants. It offers competition, exercise, and fun, which is something folks seem to seek.
I must admit I have a rather silly and unexplainable interest in spending spare time looking at real estate. When I was a young family man, I would occasionally go to real estate “open houses” to see all the new home designs and decorating ideas. I would examine the flooring, the use of space, how the rooms were laid out, and soak up all the different ways a house could be designed. I was hoping to expand my knowledge in preparation for building a home for myself someday, but as it turns out that dream has never come to pass. Maybe I chose to spend my time that way for the simple joy of exploring something new.
Lately, I have taken to looking at real estate in other towns and even other states. I look at lakefront property, raw land, and occasionally the condominium market. This weekend, I had some free time and I caught myself looking at lakefront homes in the Ozarks and comparing the prices with lakefront property here in Texas. I checked out a variety of distant locations and found it fascinating to see what your money can buy in California, as opposed to what you can get for your buck in Tulsa.
As I look, I sometimes fantasize about jumping up and making a move, though in my rational mind, I do not believe that will ever happen. It is not the actual move that I seek, it is the joy in my heart and the adrenaline that flows through my veins when I imagine living in new surroundings and experiencing what it might have to offer. What will winter be like in Michigan? How humid will it be in the Ozarks? How often will I lay out on the beach if I live in Sarasota? These are only a few of the unanswered questions in life.
The other night my wife saw me looking at my tablet and asked me what I was reading about. At that moment I was reviewing real estate in Gulf Shores, Alabama, a place I have never been. I sort of chortled at her and said, “nothing, just taking a quick trip in my mind.” Maybe my exploration is time wasted, but the thrill of the hunt for a host of new experiences is something I hope never separates from me.
For some folks, there is always a longing to know what is on the other side of the hill and to wonder what other life possibilities a man might experience. I’ve learned that it does not take long in my search before I realize how much I like the journey I am already on, but I sure do like sitting back, letting my mind drift and enjoying the fantasy. The dream may be better than living the dream. I think it usually is.
Thought for the day: For those who dream, there is no such place as “far away.”
Until next time … I will keep ridin’ the storm out.
