A carpenter looks at 45

So I write this as a carpenter gazing into his life as middle age has crept up ever so strikingly. Working in the trades and building things for other people has offered some steady income over the past 12 years and even a healthy dose of satisfaction at creating projects I am proud of.  But I can't help but feel I am destined to bring this whole thing to another level.

A modern Mainer. A tag my wonderful wife came up with to describe sort of a movement, I guess, towards creating a true sense of place where we live. This place happens to be the coastal town of Kennebunkport, Maine. The life we are creating has everything to do with taking all the wonderful attributes of what keeps us here, the natural beauty, sense of community, work ethic , buy local movement , farm to table, etc.. And make this lifestyle work for us financially. To bring what inspires us to the forefront of our decisions, our path. 

I guess it comes down to enjoying what you do and sharing it with people in a genuine way.  I also believe there is a way to make a lifestyle more profitable as we learn to own our decisions and keep integrity as a significant guiding principle.

So an example of this that I am planning for the spring. A greenhouse for our small farm. Every year our gardens grow and we extend our ability to produce healthy, quality food. I love to build things and came across a great wooden greenhouse design.  So I began to think how to bring this level of excitement beyond our application to experience it with others. To keep it enjoyable and watch the idea blossom. Perhaps to market these small green houses to hobby farmers here in southern Maine . To see this idea find some financial reward along with all the other intrinsic value it can have.

I guess I'm trying to find a simple formula that can reach many project levels. Build excitement, experiment and take some risk. Include partners and have a vision. Watch it grow. 

So as  we get another foot of snow I look out in the garden and see a lot of white,. But beyond I see the space I will clear for the greenhouse. The structure that will provide us with a more bountiful harvest. And with that a confidence in our creativity and the determination to stay true to this place...