Saying goodbye to paradise and buying a home downtown

Taking stock of life, love and achievements in the thick of home buying and selling

Anson Thompson //March 30, 2017//

Saying goodbye to paradise and buying a home downtown

Taking stock of life, love and achievements in the thick of home buying and selling

Anson Thompson //March 30, 2017//

However mean your life is, meet and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not as bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man’s abode; the snow melts before its doors as early in the spring. Cultivate property like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts… Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.” 
― Henry David ThoreauWalden

I'm on the 18th green of my time in Farmland, Indiana. I've got a 35-foot putt and I'm taking my practice stroke.

From the looks of things, it's going to be a long, hard putt. It breaks four times. The hole is at an angle, but once the ball is in the hole, I'll take my clubs and search for a new club.

My partner and I just bought a new building. (When I say partner, I'm not talking about my beautiful wife, I'm talking about my brother, my bald brother."

Life is moving faster than ever. Opportunities are budding and new directions are presenting themselves. I'm like a gypsy jumping on a train, unaware of my final destination.

It's time for me to say goodbye to the loft.

The loft is a 3,000 or so square foot luxury condo that sits above an office in downtown Farmland, Indiana. It's been home for the past five years.

It's a beautiful space with beautiful hardwood floors. The loft has three bedrooms and two baths, and a rooftop deck – like you might see in Chicago or New York. It's a unique property that will have a new owner soon enough.

My wife and I are buying a home in downtown Denver. Another loft, a similar space, but in a little bit bigger town. 

As I write these words, I have three homes.

A man does not need three homes. A man needs one; but for me, I live in two different states, so I need two homes. I've had some amazing opportunities and I've taken some chances that paid off. Some experiences have resulted in lessons of what not to do.

We are working with a trained professional to get a deal stuck on the transfer of the loft. The new owner will be a good fit for Farmland, U.S.A. If he chooses not to buy, we will be putting it on the market.

It's a cash flow positive property with very little maintenance. It's been a real flagship property of our commercial real estate firm; Simpleton Properties, but it's time for others to enjoy this space.

I want to thank the people of Farmland for their kindness, embrace of my unique existence, and allowing me to become part of their community.

I've made a few friends, lost others, and watched as my kids graduated from high school and are now moving on to the next chapter of their lives. 

I'll miss my walks, the rooftop deck and the sound of the trains. I'll miss the comforts of my first true writing chair, my fireplace and old-style claw-foot tub that I filled with hot water to meditate.

My son is buying a home and he'll transition furniture from ours to his. I think once we finalize the sale, I'll have an auction.

I have dozens of vinyl records that need a new home. I have multiple guitars that I'll move with us.

It's time to move on, but not without a little nostalgia and sadness. So this is the start of a long goodbye. Life moves and I have decided to move with it.

We will have one final party at the loft. A bittersweet celebration of transition. 

Our game plan is to grow our company. We will continue investing in our Parker City, Indiana location. We can add sales locations in new markets, but service the business from our world headquarters in Parker City.

We will be growing; we will be adding people that fit our culture.  We will continue adding high paying jobs and opportunities to those folks living in the Parker City and Farmland area.

Good luck Farmland, thanks for the time and memories, but it’s time for this vagabond to catch the train.