Empty nest hunting

This weekend, George and I are going to a high desert community about a hundred twenty miles away to look for a new home, the first in twenty four years that won't be considered with our kids' needs in mind.  It seems strange.  I mean, we still think about where our daughter or middle son will stay if they come back, because they are still in college.  I'd like to have rooms ready for them, but it isn't like in the past, when house hunting included thundering steps with accompanied shouts of  'This'll be my room!'.  

We will be looking for a home that reflects our more casual lifestyle; no formal living room and dining room.  In our big family home built for us fourteen years ago, the front area of the house was very formal, with marble-faced fireplace, columned two story entry, and white furniture.  That was about twelve hundred square feet of space that got used mostly at holidays. This time, I want a great room so that gobs of folk can gather and help cook and visit.  George is dreaming of a big outbuilding for toys.  We both want a master suite on the ground level.  I want gas cooking appliances and a huge pantry.

I am ambivalent about living so far away from my 'peeps' (for those of you without kids, this means my people, not my chickens...).  Although, George and I have always been drawn to that community.  In fact, we had moved there right after our marriage and planned to stay, until his parents' health and the economy changed our plans.  Now, it seems so far away from everything I have established for the past twenty plus years. Outside my comfort zone once again, courtesy of George the Wanderer.  Yikes, the fun never ends.