could picture myself here—morning coffee on the porch, afternoon walks on the nearby beach, evenings spent reading in the cozy living room.
The simplicity appealed after decades in a larger home filled with the accumulated possessions of family life.
The second property—a more spacious townhouse in Kure Beach with direct ocean views from a second-floor balcony—offered luxury I hadn’t anticipated being able to afford.
When Sandra mentioned the price, nearly one hundred thousand more than the cottage, I began to shake my head.
“Before you decide,” she said, “you should
