Something curious happened today. A couple scheduled to stay with us approached my husband and I with a serious inquiry: “We’d like to talk about buying your motel”. Not a typical statement we hear from our guests, so it gave us pause.
“Well…For the right price…” My husband answered. And so the doors were suddenly open for conversation about selling – A conversation I wasn’t even sure I wanted to have. For so many reasons, selling seemed out of the question. And yet, “for the right price” buzzed in our heads. So a coffee date was scheduled.
What WAS the right price? We pondered this for days leading up to our ‘date’. We whispered late into the night about why we bought this place, what our dreams were for it, and how we FELT while working here. All the while, my stomach knotted at the thought of another big life change. We played out scenerios in our heads: What if we were offered 1 million, 2 million, 10 million?! We imagined where we would go, how we would spend our time and money.
Then we came back to reality, to our little life here. To “now”. We purchased this place so we could stop living just for the future. Like many others, we want to be content everyday. Here, we live in the “now”, with honest work, fresh air, friendly people, good food, amazing views, and love in our hearts. Could money purchase the happiness we currently feel here? What would we do if they offered us 10 million dollars? Perhaps we’d travel around, vacation until we grew tired of the commotion, then go buy another motel on Lake Michigan, and do exactly what we’re doing right now…only there’s no guarantee we could recreate this. The quirks of this place belong only here, they make it what it is: our paradise, as imperfect as it is. The desert island we’ve always dreamt of.
The conclusion was simple, no amount of money could purchase the life we already have. Not even 10 million dollars.
The morning of our coffee date came and we listened to the hopeful couple discuss their dreams of owning our paradise. “their diamond in the ruff’ they called it. We let them know within the first few minutes that we wouldn’t be selling – not yet anyway. The rest of the conversation was pleasant, despite their clear disappointment. We never did learn the amount of money they wanted to purchase it for, but the experience taught us something else very important: Happiness can’t be bought, not even for “the right price”.
3 comments
For 10 million dollars I would sell everything I own plus my left arm 😀
Honestly, never having to deal with as*hole bosses or customers again? Never again having to live by alarm clocks, telephones, e-mails? Always being able to remove myself out of a awful or dangerous situations just like that? That last bit is my main point, actually.
I would give everything.
Wow!! This was really beautiful Rachel! They may have come into your lives just to show you that: that you’re in the right place for your life right now. A place that brings you just what you need: joy, balance and excitement.
This was wonderful! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I feel the same way with my life and where I live with my hubby. It is our paradise, we live a very simple life on a beautiful tranquil lot on the water in a home I love calling home, on 7 acres of land, with neighbors we cannot see in the spring and summer because of the trees. We raised our two children in this house, and have been very blessed for 32 years living here. People and friends have asked me many times what I do all day, and my answer is enjoying my peace and quiet and taking care of my little piece of paradise, which isn’t work for me. Again, simple living and loving it.
Thank you for your post and reminding me of just how blessed we are and yes I would of said the same thing, if someone asked us if we would sell, money does not and never will buy contentment.
God bless, and may you always be content with your life.