Having fun babysitting database processes today, so I had a lot of time to play with this one. Sorry for the multi-volume book....
The most radical change would be a move. Probably up to Vermont - not in Stowe or Burlington, but in that general area as I really like to snowboard Mt. Mansfield and my wife likes the 'cultural' stuff available in Burlington. I'd like mountains and some kind of water. I'd also like at least 20 acres of mostly forest so that I can preserve some habitat.
House would be larger than I have now, but not super huge. My 'dream' house has always been something in a log construction built in the post and beam style with a huge great room of like 50'x50' and two stories high with a large stone center fireplace. One wall would be all windows facing whatever view of mountains I could find, or of the lake/pond if that could be done. If no lake a pond would be dug and stocked. And old quary on the property would be a bonus for shooting.
Ringing that great room on three sides would be all the other rooms of the house on two levels. The master suite will be on the second floor at one corner so that the balcony overlooking the great room serves as the ceiling for the kitchen below. Upstairs would also have three other bedrooms each with their own bath for the kids, guests, etc. The lower level would have the media room, computer room/office, a dedicated library, a sewing room for my wife, laundry, half bath, and walk-in pantry with deep freezer.
TV isn't a large part of our life, so while the media room will be set up as a home theatre, other TVs in the house will be in public areas and able to be hidden from view. The media room will also be the main stereo etc with remote access to other rooms. Computer servers will also live in this area for music Tivo, and other media hosting purposes.
The great room would have the kitchen and dining area to one side of the stone hearth and a comfortable living area on the other side. The idea being that when we come together as a family, we are in the same room. All the 'activity' rooms of the first floor will have large double door (probably 'pocket' style) so that they can be open to the main area or closed off as needed.
The basement would have three seperate areas. Area 1 would be the utility room housing all the storage batteries for the solar/wind generators as well as the geothermal based heating and cooling system. Additional heating would be via wood, biomass, and propane striving to use the propane only as a last resort. Propane will also fire the emergency fuel cell power supply. I could go on and on regarding how certain design features would help enhance the efficiency of the house. We'll also have our own presurized water system from wells.
Area 2 will be styled as a Gentleman's Club for hosting parties and such. Complete with his and her bathrooms. If the land is sloped, this area will have a walk out to the front. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but the single malt whisky collection would expand. Decor would be out of the posh English 'hunt clubs' with big overstuffed leather chairs. A nice comfortable place to just relax and unwind with friends.
Area 3 will be the 'vault' Steel reinforced concrete room for storing and working on guns and storing and reloading ammunition. The room would also be secure storage for important papers and valuables.
I want an attached 3+ car garage off the kitchen/pantry/laundry area for our everyday vehicles. The plus is for some extra room so that you don't feel like you are crowded getting in and out. I hate the narrow lanes between cars that garages have. I want like 5' between vehicles. And long enough so that a full size pick up can fit and still have room to load, work under the hood, etc. 1 bay will have a 12 foot door for larger vehicles Radiant floor heat so that it's comfortable in the garage and so that you can wash the vehicles in the winter.
I'd probably still work as I do enjoy my job. However, it would be more as a 'consultant' basis.
Being a recoil junkie, I'd start collecting large bore arms of all kinds. I'd have to find an 8 guage shotgun, some large African double rifles of various types. Have to add a 20mm rifle. Mr Barett would get an order for some toys.
I'd have to hold some annual "Shootouts" where I buy a bunch of guns and invite people up to have fun shooting them and writing up real world reviews. For example, get a top end 1911 from all the major builders and have a little IDPA style party where we light off 30 or 40 cases of ammo over two days and then post a nice in-depth review of the guns. Then we'll do something with all the popular police sidearms. Basically, just have fun and let the chips fall where they may.
Hell, this would be a fun thing to do anyway - just need to select what we are testing and find a place to do it. (^_^)
Milan would not worry about college. That would be set aside for him and not touched.
I think we'd set up some kind of investment strategy that included a life insurance piece so that our day to day living would be protected. That alone would probably tap a large amount of the funds - especially if we wanted to tax shelter some of that.
As for vehicles....
The wife would likely keep her VW Passat as we both love that car. I'd pick up a Subaru Baja Turbo (same engine as the WRX, but in a 'pickup' style)
Out back, I want a 'barn' style workshop. Figure that a nice woodstove will suffice for heat, but will also install radiant lines and a pump system so that the floor isn't always cold.
That '46 Willys in my garage now would start to get a lot more attention. I suspect that I'd not quite do 'all' the work that I had originally wanted, but farm out the sheetmetal for a nice professional resoration and get some help doing the roll cage bends. I still want to assemble the Buick V6 myself. But I'd have that Matkins class III frame, custom springs, and full floating Dynatrack axles with air lockers. And those Flaming River steering and AST brake components will no longer be a pipe dream.
I'd keep my '96 Dodge Ram, but the supercharger will go back on the V-10 as I won't care about gas prices anymore. Some new paint and some minor repairs and she'd be just as good as new.
I would import a Honda Forza scooter to have fun with.
And I know the wife will hate it, but I'd also go get me one of these:
Why? Just 'Because"
I'd also set up a few trusts. GOAL would get an interest bearing account to help fund their educational programs. They'd probably get a nice fat check too. (^_^) And I suppose the annual raffle would be sporting some kind of cool firearm that makes grown men drool like 3 week old babies.
The Pan Mass Challenge would get something. Not sure what, but I would love to set up a gift that keeps giving for them. Make that $23 Million they raised this year spike even higher....
I would love to fund a national study on the effect of gun laws on crime. Some kind of independant thing where the research team is either proven as non-biased, or completely balanced in their opinions going in. (one anti for every pro) Let the NRA, Brady Boys, etc all have their input. Hell, even let Rebecca Peters put her 2 cents in. And then LEAVE THEM ALONE. Give them the funding, time, and resources to study the laws, the crime rates, and just let the chips fall. Further, tie the social and economic costs to the laws. How much do such laws cost to implement, enforce, and manage and how much was saved or lost. All the research data, conclusions, and recomendations from each member become full public knowledge. If we find that some laws actually do good, GREAT. If not, then let every legislator who so proposes such laws defend themselves against the facts.
As for political contributions - I don't know. I am so turned off by the way our system is corrupted now, I fear that any support just supports that business as usual. I'd rather support a move to simpler government. Where tax law is so simple, paying someone to do your taxes is a waste of money. where the average high school student can read a law and know what is and isn't a crime. Where one bill = one item. Where the Patriot act would be laughed out of existance. Where the BATFE was worried about patent violations and making statements on the quality of import items.
What's sad is that in reality, a lottery jackpot isn't really all that much. Our financial advisor would have some fun telling us how to divide it up. We'd have some fun spending the 10-20% we could really afford to go splurge, and that would really be it. Especially if we wanted to retire and live comforably.
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
