Decisions Decisions!

I think I've been spending a lot of unnecessary time looking at flats for sale. I found a few that I would like to look into owning, but again, it's all a question of what is practical for me and my husband. And to clarify, I do not want to buy a storefront, I'm only interested in renting. What I meant about the initial investment part is that if I purchase a flat then I'll need to put down around 20% as a down payment. I've saved that, so I can do it. OR I would need to take that same money and invest it in a cash register, stock, furniture, rent & deposits, legal stuff like licenses and stuff, etc. Of course, I'd have some left over, but not enough to put it down as a deposit for a flat to buy.

After thinking this over for months, then after posting about it here, I've decided that for right now I'll stop looking for a flat to buy and focus more on moving to a larger flat to rent and then start looking for a storefront to rent as well. That 'feels' right to me. But I won't be hunting for a new flat right away, I want to take the Autumn and Winter to study German, travel around Europe and spend time with my family and friends without thinking about moving again. Though if something comes up that is perfect for us, I'll take it as it appears the market for a 4-5 room flat in Hannover is extremely competitive, especially in the List district where we ideally want to be. Plus I am highly critical when it comes to property so this makes it very hard for me. Oh and what do I mean when I say "4-5 rooms"? For those living outside of Germany, let me explain. The number of rooms is how apartments and homes are listed, also listed is square meters, not square feet and not the number of bedrooms which is how we do it in America. So if I want a 4 room apartment that means a living room, dining room, and 2 bedrooms or a living room and 3 bedrooms, however you want to use them is up to you as most rooms are off of the main entryway in apartments. At least in the city apartments, 95% have a foyer but that is not counted as a room. Neither is the kitchen or bathroom, also not counted as rooms).

So, now to think more about my shop idea. I actually sketched out the floor plan and "departments" and put together a business plan this week. :) I'm feeling excited about this. I think that it would be smart if I did some traveling, moved into a larger apartment (to rent), found a nice shop and kept it going for a year, get pregnant and run the shop until I need to take some time off, and by then hire someone to run it for me for a few months until I can work there again. I would only be open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-6 so I can have Sundays and Mondays off. Also, I want to have my computer in-store at the counter so I can blog and write during slow hours. :) This is all feeling really, really good.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments from my last post, I cannot describe to you how much it means to hear each of your unique experiences and opinions. I don't have siblings and I've lost touch with my father, and all of my grandparents have now passed away... so the only two people I have left is my mother and uncle. My mother isn't in a position to give me business advice as she isn't really business minded (more of a free spirited artist type) and my uncle just retired from his career as a surgeon and is extremely versed in all things medical but doesn't really have much advice for me when it comes to owning a shop or something. My lovely aunt, who passed away young at age 40 from cancer, is the person I would ask if I could. She was lovely, lovely, lovely. I'll tell you about her for a moment. She traveled the world, was a fine artist, taught art at a Waldorf school in Maine after living in Moscow and Argentina where she learned to speak Russian and Spanish fluently. My aunt handmade everything for me, from doll houses to soft toys. She was also a writer and loved to collect art. Her home in Newcastle, Maine was absolutely break taking. She lived in an old farm house from the 1800s on a pond and had one of those chef's kitchens because she loved to cook. Because she had been all over Europe and South America, and because she had so much experience as a teacher and painter, I would love to call her right now and just talk about all of this stuff you know? Do you have someone like this in your life, the perfect person for you who you could tell anything, but they are now deceased or gone in some way? That person, outside of my mother who is alive and well, is my aunt Patty. I guess that's why I needed some advice. A little background for those of you who don't know much about my family or why I can't just call my dad or grandfather. :) Lucky for me though, I have an amazingly supportive and practical husband who is my sounding board on all matters, but sometimes a girl needs to step outside of the circle to see what others might say. I'm so glad I did, you are all blessings and treasures to me. :) (images: 1st: source unknown, if you know please tell me! 2nd: vanessa bruno, 3rd: the brick house)