I think I'd be careful how I spent it, but if you will enjoy the process and this is your "bucket list", then I'd go ahead (again, carefully). The longer the wait to do it, the shorter the time you will enjoy it. I have done things many times and wondered why the heck I did not do that sooner. I am very cautious and it sounds like you are too. I bargain shopped and am pinching pennies til they scream, lol. However, I have waited a long time to get a home that is done and is where I feel is our family nest for the long term. I work hard and save everywhere else, so this is our splurge. I think it may also make your dh happy to see you getting what you have waited for for so long. It would be lovely if he could enjoy it for a while with you. If he is with you on this and likes planning and working on it with you, this could be a project that gives you time together and it may be therapeutic to see tangible results. We can't always control our health, so maybe controlling your surroundings is a way to feel a little power again. I do like that your focus is on looking forward. I would just caution that you do not mortgage more than you could get for the house, although since most banks won't let you do that anymore, that is less of a concern. You don't want to find that you can't afford to live there and yet can't afford to sell later on. I'd also hate to leave any heirs with a financial mess. You do not owe anyone to make them rich, but I'd hate to have my passing make someone I love poor. I do like your plan for taking on a roommate or renting out an apt. It is a great fallback position and a way to generate money regardless of your health. We rented out part of our first house and it helped us be able to move along and gain equity enough to now be in our second house and in the process of fixing it up. Some people were aghast at having to live with a tenant downstairs, but then again, most of them are not as well off now as we are ;) I wish you and your dh all the best and hope you have longer with him than expected.

I'll start at the front door. Behind the bench the HVAC duct. There is also one right across from it and on 2nd floor.The middle post on the wall is a structural post that we were told we couldn't move originally. The post closest to the tv is a huge structural post.The weird stair situation in the living room. We loved all the windows when we first moved in, but after living here for 3 years, I hate them. The room never maintains heat or cool. The sun shines right in and makes it really hard to watch tv during the day. Ideally, I wouldn't have a 2 story living room.Best picture of this area I have. The doorway on the right is to the old half bath. I'll have to ask my husband when he gets home, but I remember we couldn't remove this because it was structural. We made it into a drop zone since the door to the garage is in there. To the left is the pantry that has a ton of storage. We don't really need all of that though. The island is 10x4 and perfect for us. We do family dinners on Sundays and it fits the whole family around for socializing. The awkward catwalk. I hate that you have to walk a mile to get upstairs.This bedroom is the best example I can find of the awkward situation. The heart represents where the hallway used to run. This room was 9x7ish when we bought it so we made the new hallway and had to put a header in there for the closets. I hope these pictures help. We are in our 30s with no children, but hopefully that will change by next year. We have our niece and nephew over all the time and they have their own bedrooms here. We wanted a game room because we are a huge game family. Sundays are family time and that means pool, bbq, board games, movies. It would truly get used here weekly. We use our downstairs master as my craft room. I have an online and monthly market business and its important that I have AT LEAST a 14x10 space to fit my equipment. I do not need the large laundry room. I am planning to switch to a single machine washer/dryer and I find I don't need much more than that or stuff piles up around. We haven't really bought furniture for this space since it was just supposed to be until we moved.

There is one thing that she did recently that made me question if I could stay her friend. A common and close friend of ours recently divorced. They were married since out of college.. so for over 20 years and have two kids. My friend and I both know our now divorced friend since we were in college. My friend that wanted to stay with me for the summer (lets call her Cathy) slept with and started a relationship with my other friend (we will call her Sara) with Sara's husband right before the divorce was final. I told Cathy that she would lose Sara's friendship forever and that if someone did that to me (such as Cathy with my ex husband) I would never forgive her and could not be her friend. Well, she did and ruined the friendship. It is hard to look at her and not feel sick over this. There is so much more that is really just sickening about this story but I will keep it brief. Sorry...figured I would vent some more since you all are such great listeners!!! Love this forum!

@Isaac It would be a consideration if I was ready to retire (or lost my job with no hope of finding another one), wasn't raising a child, didn't have pets, etc., or if I was basically ready to sit around idly waiting for the grim reaper to find me. I'm definitely not ready to downsize. I actually envision that someday in the far future, when my teen has launched herself into adult life and flown the coop, that if anything, I might end up renting a room out to a college student.... I'm close to a university and quiet lodgings for serious students is at a premium around here. But that's in the distant future. There are currently three humans in the house. We also have 2 dogs and five cats, plus frequent four-legged guests from the shelter and or my teenager's pet-sitting activities. In our current setup, my bf & I have one bedroom, my teen the 2nd bedroom, the 3rd is being turned into a guest room/office, the 4th is my boyfriend's office, and a 5th room is a combination dog area and exercise area... oh yeah, and a custom 2.5'x8' enclosure for a rabbit. We have a new dog she's sitting for - and he's a night time barker/howler, unfortunately, which we didn't know before the owner left him with us while she travels out-of-state. He's been fed, watered, walked, petted, taken out for potty, etc. - and he's still barking right this minute.... and it's midnight. Thankfully, there's enough space between our house and neighbors that his barking doesn't upset them. I can't imagine what would happen if we lived in an apartment / condo / townhouse... let's just say, neighbors would not like us. Many apartments/condos have rules that would prevent us from keeping our current menagerie, let alone having additional dogs/cats. And some restrict dogs by breed and/or weight. which is a concern for me. Our most recently adopted dog weighs about 70 pounds and is training to be a service dog for my teen. I especially selected the township I'm in because the real estate property taxes are relatively low while still having good schools (significantly above the state average in terms of academics). But, for the sake of argument.... I looked to see about any single-level properties in our township for sale. Most of the houses in my area are 2 or 3 stories. I found only one single-level property... listed for about $30,000 MORE than my house is valued at - probably because it can be zoned either residential or commercial and it's on a busy highway. Although it is about 1/3rd smaller too. So while "downsizing" - the cost would go up. We also are having another grandchild stay over periodically. There's enough of an age difference (10 years) between the one I'm already raising and this one that if she stays over often, they should each have their own room. I also need a separate room to use as an office - I work 90% from home and have client meetings using MS teams, webex, etc. Like I said.... maybe 10-15 years from now, downsizing might make sense - presuming I'm not raising anyone at that time, hopefully by then I'll be retired, etc. Just not ready to essentially prepare to roll over and wait for death just yet. :)