Energized

Post-Labor Day Beach, Southampton
So this summer was The Experiment.

Chris and I have owned and operated our bed and breakfast for 17 years. We'd like to sell, and move back to California. (Okay, full disclosure: *I* would like to sell and move back to Laguna Beach. Chris is still on the fence. But he feels that I moved East in 1992 for him, so he owes me. At this point, I'm taking him up on it.)

We were tired. Borderline burnout. So last year about this time, we thought Okay, if we aren't going to sell anytime soon, what about bringing in managers?

Which, if you've followed this blog, you know we did. And they did an awesome job for their 6-month contract, which ended September 30.

Over the summer, which we spent back in Laguna Beach, Chris had shoulder surgery, followed by months of rehab. But we still enjoyed our first summer off from work in all of Chris's working life. (Being a self-employed writer for 10 years prior to opening ABM, you might argue that I can't say the same. But I feel like I haven't ever had a summer off since I was too young to work.)
Enjoying live entertainment before the Pageant of the Masters

And during the summer, we found that the housing market in the Hamptons is overrun with houses of our size and price, and it just isn't going to be a good time to sell in the foreseeable future.

Game changer. Big time. Had to rethink our retirement plans.

We came to the conclusion that maybe we weren't as ready to retire as we thought.

Yeah, I still write. And someday I'll have time to write faster than I currently do. But you know? I am a pretty awesome innkeeper. I glean a lot of personal satisfaction in creating beautiful breakfasts, and a comfortable inn with lovely rooms. I thrive on compliments for all of the above. Frankly, I get more compliments on my breakfasts than sales of my books (which I must admit, still hurts). But with winters off in California and spring, summer, and early fall in the Hamptons, we lead a pretty sweet life.

And maybe I just needed a summer off to appreciate it.

So we're back in the Hamptons running A Butler's Manor, and this year we're going to stay open until the end of December, and have Christmas here. I actually hope it snows. I'm ready for a white Christmas. Then we'll spend a couple of months back in Laguna before returning to run the 2020 season.

I'm more energized than I've been in years. Because This. Is. What. I. Do.

Bring it on!

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