May’s Blueprint: The Architecture of Independence

San Juans outside of Montrose, CO. Photo by Paul Lampe

The Antithesis of Curation

I like to think of myself as the antithesis of the perfect Instagram post. My life is messy, not curated, and also definitely intentional. I am not any better or any worse than anyone else, but I am definitely happy with the fact that I see the world differently than most. As I enter into my sixth decade, I find myself being so much more comfortable with my process, my way of seeing the world, and the things I am good at. I think recognizing not just what you love but also what things come easily to you can help you take your life in a far better direction than following the rest of the sheep. There is nothing wrong with being a sheep, but I prefer to find a way to fly.

Perpignan, France

So how do you fly? What does it feel like when you can really soar in your life? I think you have to be unapologetic about how you see your life and stop compromising. There are hard “no’s” in your life, and you have to be able to set those boundaries and stick to them. After spending 18 months in an area that has no jobs, and after more rejections than I ever thought possible, the slow realization that Cortez is not home base finally sank in. We put our house on the market, Paul found a job in Montrose, and we found a home in Montrose off-market. I await May 22 with bated breath. I soar in my heart as I think about these new horizons because it is just the beginning of a life well lived.

This article, May’s Blueprint, is part of the Life Notes series at Best of Both Worlds Blog. Read May’s Muse here for inspiration.

Lizardhead Pass, San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Photo by Paul Lape

The Launchpad

I might have mentioned that Paul and I have moved a few times. Well, collectively, more than a few. Definitely more than four. But none of that matters. The road right in front of us is what matters, not life events in the rearview mirror. We have repaired and renovated two homes prior to the one we found in Montrose. Moving into a completely renovated home feels like the most incredible gift. I remind myself that I get to do this. I get to sell a home and buy a new one. I get to live in Colorado. I get to be in a life that is aligned with who I am. We will be tweaking some of our interiors, but we will also use many of my upcycled pieces and things we have collected. My life is not necessarily curated, but some of the furniture we own is. This is another thing I get to do, and for this I am grateful. Part of what I feel I am creating with this new home is a command center, from which I can eventually create a life where I am my own boss. That is the one-day dream.

The Double Pivot

I enjoy my current job and have no plans to leave it right now. However, I am building this blog alongside a physical planner project and a library of digital printables. My goal is to break into this type of business to eventually become completely self-sufficient. I am moving toward a life of vitality rather than a traditional retirement where you simply stop living. I plan to do the exact opposite.

The original goal of moving to Cortez was to stabilize a base camp, but that never happened. We are now pivoting to Montrose, which is already proving to be a much better fit for our needs. I am ready to see these closings through, as we officially move into the Montrose home on May 23.

Initially, it did feel like a bit of a double whammy, not finding jobs over 18 months. That, coupled with realizing that we could not buy the cottage in Portugal, hit hard at first. But there was an opportunity for a pivot there, too. Rather than seeing that as a failure, we see it as a stepping stone. I went to Portugal by myself to try to secure that cottage, and that trip was a transformational trip for me as my first solo journey to a foreign country. Read about my adventures here, in my *Solo Mission* article.

Telluride, CO Photo by Paul Lampe

The Scouting Roadmap

Our plan to soar through this next phase includes a 3-to-5-year horizon. We intend to scout the Girona to Perpignan corridor in Spain and France to see which area we prefer. We envision a Mediterranean lifestyle and diet, eventually purchasing a small cottage or beach apartment. I can hardly believe this is in our sights, as financially, it can feel like an impossible dream. But as Audrey Hepburn said, “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!’”

The best part is that we don’t have to leave Colorado. We are exploring ways to fund these travel dreams, potentially through an accessory dwelling unit in our backyard in Montrose. The idea has been swirling in our heads for some time, and it would allow us to solidify the Best of Both Worlds. This strategy would finally let us bridge the Rockies to the Mediterranean. This is the very soul of our plan. Colorado is special, and we get to live here. The ski area we are closest to is Telluride, and I am excited about that. Read more here about *Telluride* experiences.

Ready to Take Flight

We are now less than three weeks away from the double-closing that changes everything. This isn’t just about moving boxes from one zip code to another; it is about finally aligning my physical environment with my professional and personal trajectory. By choosing Montrose as our new base camp, we are positioning ourselves to be closer to the mountain culture we love while building the financial engine that will eventually carry us across the Atlantic.

We are now in the final sprint toward May 22, and while I have a few more stories to share from this desk, my focus is already shifting toward the new horizon. The Command Center will be commissioned, the MacBook Air M1 will be plugged in, and the work of bridging the Rockies to the Mediterranean will begin in earnest. It has taken 18 months of “hard nos” to get to this “yes,” but as I look toward May 23, I realize the runway was exactly as long as it needed to be. It’s time to stop taxiing and finally take flight.

Girona, Spain, Photo by Lucas Chizzali