THINGS TO DO

INNKEEPERS STORY

IF THIS HOUSE COULD TALK

SPECIALS

Innkeeper's Journal

Louis & Sharalee Falzerano

It all started.......

While sitting at an HMO doctor's office (June 2001), with my 6-foot, 14-year old blue haired nephew, who has once again tripped over his own feet.  Despite our appearance, I felt invisible to the staff and not quite sure if I minded (due to the blue hair).  I picked up the closest reading material to me without having to get up, MODERN MATURITY MAGAZINE.  Now mind you, at the time I was 42 years old with little interest in this magazine or in retiring.

Since 1990, I had been working at the Westchester Country Archives, preserving and making available historical records to the public.  Despite my original intention of having a career in the art world, I found my job at the Archives stimulating and informative.

My husband Louis, a master plumber with his own business since 1987, was showing signs of boredom.  I felt that his adventurous spirit was being stifled by his 11-hour work day.

While sitting in the doctor's office, I thought about our two children, Aaron & Jessica, who no longer thought we were the center of their universe. In fact, they spent less and less time hanging out with us.  Aaron was away at college. In addition to college, he was active in political demonstrations, traveling and attending concerts (sometimes all three at the same time). You notice I did not mention he was working. Our daughter Jessica was in her final year of high school with big plans ahead of her that did not seem to include us.  Now, I'm not saying we were living unsatisfactory lives, just that we were ready for a change.

The magazine article was about many great places to live and retire to. To learn more you could contact real estate agents and visit websites.  So I ripped it out and dreamed about the Adirondacks.

I did not tell Louis that night but I did go to the computer and started to do more research.

Within two weeks we were on our way up to the Adirondacks to look at property.  By August (2 months after the doctor's office) we found what we believed to be the perfect place to run a Bed & Breakfast.  A big house with a long history, a great view and plenty of exciting things to do in the area.  One slight problem; it needed a HUGE amount of work, especially plumbing.

OKAY, WE CAN DO THIS, WE'RE YOUNG AND ENTHUSIASTIC. 

Please stay tuned...

TWO YEARS LATER WE SOLD THE HOUSE, CLOSED THE PLUMBING BUSINESS, BROUGHT THE KIDS TO COLLEGE AND MOVED TO THE ADIRONDACKS.

OVERDUE UPDATE- Five 1/2 years after moving to the Adirondacks we've had an opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, people we would normally not come in contact with. We boast a repeat business. Just last week (Aug. 2008) we had 10 people from Columbia who broke out exotic musical instruments and played around an outdoor fire under the stars and I might add also around the breakfast table. They were such a passionate bunch they even applauded my breakfast.

Our kids have since graduated from college and doing great. Our son Aaron, is leaving for South Korea to teach at a school for one year and our daughter Jessica is talking about "packing it all in" and moving to California to live out her dreams of opening an independent bookstore. Gee wiz, I wonder where they get their risky traveling feet from.....

 When folks ask us if we regret leaving our previous life behind my response is always the same. I tell them, if we gave it a lot of thought beforehand we never would have done it.  Yes it was a crazy decision, It really didn't make much sense because we walked away during what would have been our highest income-earning years along with our most expensive years. I've learned how to swear at ladders and hammers and Louis has learned how to vacuum. But we are together and excited about what the future could possibly hold for us next. 

Back to welcome page