In the Beginning...

RIVER RETREAT......This is a project I started in May 2010, where my wife and I started on our dream home on the Muskoka River.

I built the house I am currently living in. I always said I would build one more home and that would be my place of retirement . My first attempt was a practical house, relatively plain. I was young with a wife and three young children. I am not a builder by trade, my profession is a full-time Firefighter of 25 years. Well retirement is getting closer (5 more years) and we hope to have the house done for that special day.
Through this forum we would like to share our journey with you, as we proceed with the building of our dream home. We are sure to experience not only the joys and excitement of this project but also a few challenges and frustrations along the way.

Finding a design for the house was not much of a problem as we both had a good idea of what we wanted. The only problem we had was agreeing on the size. I wanted around 1200 sq. ft and the boss (my wife) wanted much more. Her reasoning was the kids and later grand kids that would inevitably come for visits. I explained (nicely of coarse) that for 90% of the time it would be only us. With some bribes and promises of bunkies and such we came to a compromise. The house will be 1650 sq. ft with a three season room of 200 sq. ft. and a basement that we could and will finish.

My next blog, I will start with all the things needed to get started in the building process and the costs associated with it. It will be an eye opener for the first timers.