Our dream of owning a vacation home in the mountains became a reality in July 2010. We found a cabin located in the San Bernardino Mountains of California, in the town of Running Springs (elevation over 6,000 feet).
The cabin was around 900 square feet, with two lofts and two full bathrooms, an important factor in our decision to buy it. The property was located near two main highways and within walking distance of downtown Running Springs.
The place had been vacant for more than three years, and some of the children in the neighborhood had even branded it as a “haunted cabin” because no one had lived there for so long. The interior was in bad condition. The carpet was stripped due to a water leak, and there were cobwebs and carpenter ant frass (i.e., the detritus left behind by these pesky insects) everywhere. It was a real fixer-upper on the inside, but the structure itself was in good shape.
The cabin was around 900 square feet, with two lofts and two full bathrooms, an important factor in our decision to buy it. The property was located near two main highways and within walking distance of downtown Running Springs.
The place had been vacant for more than three years, and some of the children in the neighborhood had even branded it as a “haunted cabin” because no one had lived there for so long. The interior was in bad condition. The carpet was stripped due to a water leak, and there were cobwebs and carpenter ant frass (i.e., the detritus left behind by these pesky insects) everywhere. It was a real fixer-upper on the inside, but the structure itself was in good shape.
After purchasing the cabin, we drove up almost every weekend to clean and do repair work. The first major concern we had was removing a 150-foot-tall cedar tree, which was leaning against the front side of the cabin. A team of hired professional tree cutters had to use a big crane to lift sections of the tree and prevent them from falling onto the cabin.
Our drive up to the retreat is always very enjoyable, and the view of the lowlands from the highway is breathtaking. It’s our getaway from the city, where we can relax, enjoy nature and breathe the clean mountain air. It is our “picnic up in the mountains,” as we call it.
The winter season is always the most exciting time, because that is when our children and grandchildren come up and enjoy the cabin and play in the snow. The nearest ski resort is only a 15-minute drive away, and there are several sledding areas in the area. It’s a full house, and we play board games and charades and tell stories, which is very entertaining. In the evenings, we light up the fireplace to keep warm, roast marshmallows for s’mores and drink hot cocoa.
Our drive up to the retreat is always very enjoyable, and the view of the lowlands from the highway is breathtaking. It’s our getaway from the city, where we can relax, enjoy nature and breathe the clean mountain air. It is our “picnic up in the mountains,” as we call it.
The winter season is always the most exciting time, because that is when our children and grandchildren come up and enjoy the cabin and play in the snow. The nearest ski resort is only a 15-minute drive away, and there are several sledding areas in the area. It’s a full house, and we play board games and charades and tell stories, which is very entertaining. In the evenings, we light up the fireplace to keep warm, roast marshmallows for s’mores and drink hot cocoa.
After the first winter, we started to landscape. We planted a little over 100 tulips in front of the house, and when spring came, the tulips bloomed and they were very beautiful. This started our obsession with tulips; we planted 250 bulbs the next year, and then 500 the year after that.
Last year, we expanded our driveway by building a natural stone retaining wall with several planting beds. In the fall, we planted more than 1,000 tulip bulbs, yielding gorgeous flowers all over the front and side of the cabin. People passing by stop and take pictures of the colorful blooming tulips. Our neighbors have even started calling our place “Tulip Cabin.”
We are happy and proud to share our modest cabin, and we hope to continue enjoying the cabin life throughout our retirement.
Last year, we expanded our driveway by building a natural stone retaining wall with several planting beds. In the fall, we planted more than 1,000 tulip bulbs, yielding gorgeous flowers all over the front and side of the cabin. People passing by stop and take pictures of the colorful blooming tulips. Our neighbors have even started calling our place “Tulip Cabin.”
We are happy and proud to share our modest cabin, and we hope to continue enjoying the cabin life throughout our retirement.
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