Imagining Things That Already Exist

As I am prone to do at least once a quarter, I'm currently grappling with my current role as a cog in the corporate wheel. It's really not something I ever planned on being. However, I've found over the years that to be happy I need things like insurance and a steady pay check. It's just the type of person I am. But and so, the Hubs and I are always discussing ideas and ways we can take the time we give to our employers back and make it ours again, putting it towards making the world a better place. Or whatever.

One thing Hillary wants is a warehouse that he can build, make and do in (his preference is to make it our abode, but we have differing views on that). Then we started thinking about making it some kind of community creative/creation space that we could rent out for events and we could have bands play and have locally sponsored coffee and I could open the record store I've always wanted (yes, I wanted one at 19 and I still do). This is where the conversation always goes south, because I start saying things like - I wonder what kind of insurance we'd need for that type of thing and would we need a liquor license for the parties and how would we keep the guests at the events from stealing all my vinyl merch? And all H wanted to do was dream up our Inspiration Station and here I go bringing reality all crashing down on his head. What can I say? It's what I do.

From an Anthropologie back a year or so ago...not sure of the date.

So last night he begged me to stop and to just sit for 10 minutes and think of exactly how I'd want our warehouse if we took money, location, and all rules and legalities out of the equation. So this is what I came up with:

It's an old red brick warehouse with 2 floors, and tons of long thin windows lining both sidewalls. The front double doors are over sized wooden antiques. They open up to the first floor which is mainly just open event space with polished concrete floors. The second floor doesn't start until about a quarter of the way into the building so there is a balcony that looks down to the entry way, which has approx 24 ft. ceilings.

To the left is my record store. (Name suggestions are welcome.) There are 4 big, thick boat anchor chains coming down from the high ceiling that suspend a series of old windows, still in their frames that make up the walls of the record store. The entire building is wired for sound. The first floor brick walls are lined with local art and in the back there's an industrial kitchen and storage space.

Perhaps something like this, only floating in mid air.

The second floor is all art space with big wooden planked, white washed floors. Tons of tables, big sinks, a dark room in the back corner, an antique printing press. The roof is entirely landscaped with trees and bushes and big patches of grass, specifically for laying on. In each corner there is a small garden - veggie/herb/tea/cutting for all to use.

So that's the place I created in my head and I really, really like it. So much that I want to make it happen in the town we will eventually end up. And so then today I just do a Google search because I wonder... and low and behold there is already something like this where we'll be someday. It doesn't seem QUITE as cool and it's much, much bigger than we were thinking, but it's the same general premise. And now I'm bummed.