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Love Where You Live: The Adventure

In other posts, I’ve written about the joy of loving where you live, and I certainly do! (When I say “love where you live,” I’m not just talking about the space you occupy, your home, or the town you live in, but also the region you inhabit.)

Loving the region where you live can take a bit more work than simply loving the house you live in, making an effort to get out and discover it to appreciate it. I thought about that recently when I had the privilege of accompanying one of my sons-in-laws on an overnight backpacking trip to one of his favorite places: La Push, Washington.

Not all destinations are easy to get to and this was one of them. La Push is a wild place where land meets water and jagged rock formations make stunning silhouettes against the brilliant red sun when it sets over the Pacific Ocean off Washington’s west coast. First, Second, Third, and Rialto Beaches are highly recommended there; we chose Second Beach, a mile-long stretch with several freshwater streams that meander from sand to sea. It’s one of the few places I’ve encountered where you’re still free to help yourself to driftwood for a fire.

You can’t see Second Beach by just pulling off the freeway at one of those visitor viewpoints and jumping out of your car for a quick look. No, this is one of those places that requires some planning and attention to detail to get there. So, we diligently packed our backpacks, grabbed our bedrolls and—oh, did I mention our bear cans?—and set out.

Once on the beach, we found a place to make camp: close to fresh water but far enough away from other campers to make us feel like we were miles away from anywhere and anyone. The continuous sound of the waves was both our lullaby and our alarm clock. No cell phones, no computers. It is some of the best of the wild that Washington has to offer.

This kind of adventure reminds me that many times, the best things in life take work to experience and appreciate. Loving where you live can require planning and preparation, not at all unlike buying and selling real estate. Buying a home—or selling one—is admittedly a lot of effort. But it also can afford you that sweet spot of being in a place that’s perfect at just the right time in your life.

My ocean adventure was worth every bit of effort it took to prepare for it and get there. It reinforced my conviction that the best things in life require effort—and reminded me how much I love where I live!

(c) 2017 Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.

Doug Lawrence is a licensed broker with Keller Williams West Sound in Gig Harbor, Washington. He loves the opportunities the real estate profession gives him to help people love where they live! If you’d like to buy, sell, or invest in real estate in the Pierce or Kitsap County area, give him a shout (or a call, or an email): dlawrence@kw.com or 253.341.5287.

8107 – 135th St NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98329

$355K – First time on market: beautiful custom 3-bdrm, 2218-square foot home with a view!

SOLD – in four days at higher than asking price!

Main floor master, upper and lower garages, exposed beams, built in vacuum, lots of natural light. Very thoughtfully designed and built in the late 80s. Unique layout provides endless possibilities for living arrangements. Outdoor features include dog kennel, sprinkler system, and fruit trees. Hurry; this one won’t last!

MLS# 1093517 Offered by Doug Lawrence and Keller Williams WestSound (253) 341-5287

Open House: Sat., April 29th, 12-3 pm and Sun., April 30th, 1-4 pm, 8107 – 135th St NW, Gig Harbor, 98329

Offer Review Date: 05/01/2017 (seller may review/accept sooner)

The Nuts and Bolts of Christmas

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It’s that time of year again! I’m sure you’ve decked the halls and the tree is decorated, and you probably even have a string of lights or two on the exterior of your house. Now it’s time to get down to the best part of Christmas: the food!

For me, food at Christmas ranks right up there with the presents, and probably higher. Snickerdoodles. Chocolate crinkles. Flavored popcorn in a big tin. Fresh cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. And for sure, Nuts and Bolts!

A few years ago, I became the Keeper of All Things Nuts and Bolts in our household when my mother-in-law passed down the family recipe and conferred the honor to me. I take this role very seriously. What are “nuts and bolts,” you ask? Think: several varieties of Chex, peanuts, with some Cheerios and pretzels thrown in and a host of nummy spices (which for the sake of my inheritance will remain nameless). Mix them and roast them in a low-temperature oven, creating a delectable and savory-yet-slightly-sweet anytime (or everytime) snack. I tell you, it’s addicting.

It’s funny, isn’t it, how many of our traditions are centered around food. Food is not just sustenance; it’s often an experience, and the emotions of those experiences help keep us connected to one another. This is why families find themselves defining their holidays—and often their relationships—by their food. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

What are your family Christmas food traditions? I’d love to hear! (And if you’re not sworn to secrecy, you can even share the recipe.)

Wishing you all the best this Christmas and always,

Doug Lawrence

Doug Lawrence is a professional real estate broker in Gig Harbor, Washington with Keller Williams Real Estate. He’d be delighted to assist with your home buying, selling, and investment needs. You can reach him at dlawrence@kw.com or by phone at 253.341.5287.

 

The Gift of Giving

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The value of a (person) resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.

~Albert Einstein

As much as I enjoy receiving Christmas gifts, I think my favorite part of Christmas has always been watching my family unwrap and enjoy the gifts I have chosen for them. I really do find it more fun to give than receive (not that I don’t like receiving!).

The quality of “living to give” is something I admire in others. People who live generously—not just with their money, but who give generously of themselves—really make the world go around. Many times, they are nameless and faceless, so to speak—not motivated by recognition or financial return on their investment, but rather by the intrinsic joy that comes with generosity.

This runs counter cultural to the messages we receive around us in our culture most of the time and especially over the holiday season. Buy, buy, buy. Accumulate. Indulge. You deserve it. At the same time, there is a whole population, a whole world, that is desperately in need—and not just materially. Sometimes the greatest needs are needs of the heart, for things like compassion, friendship, and assistance.

Generosity is that quality that empowers us to be the answer to another person’s need, whether that need is financial, emotional, practical, or spiritual. A friend of mine pointed out, “We win by losing. We gain by giving away. And, our greatest memories are of the gifts we gave rather than the ones we received.” I couldn’t agree more.

I hope you enjoy the best gift of all this holiday season – the gift of giving!

Best wishes, Doug

Doug Lawrence is a certified real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty in Gig Harbor, WA.

Running with Endurance

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Okay. So you have not heard from me in a while.

With two jobs and a flip with the finish line in view, time as been a scarcity as of late. It is crazy how things multiply when you get knee deep into a project and a planned thing leads into two unplanned things or maybe into three. You paint the walls and trim in a bathroom and then decide the faucet is corroded and the mirror is outdated, thus the two for one special you never counted on. Look how much money you are going to save (not).

Anyways, that is were I have been,  preoccupied 15 to 18 hours a day, which doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for writing in your diary.  (I realize now that blogging is a way of getting a man to write in a diary.)

The paint is done, carpets are in, and the yard is looking fantastic  (thanks to Art and Tim). Doors have been re-hung and the closet organizers are ready to assist the new owners with–what else?–keeping organized.

It has been a long journey to this point, an odyssey that  could not have been accomplished without so much help along the way, let alone all the words of encouragement. With all the big jobs done, only the small and smaller tasks are left to be checked off the list and, of course, the biggest and potentially most challenging task is left: to find the right buyer at the right price.

At this stage of the project I have no regrets. I enjoy challenges and I enjoy finished challenges even more. So, if you are one that has been following our adventure and who has maybe wished you could be part of the process now, is your chance. Spread the word: our house is now for sale (or rather as of Monday, it will be) and we need to sell it!!! That’s the part you can play:  when we post the link, put your networking and social media skills to work and use your voice. We would be most grateful!

Thank you and that’s all for now. 🙂