would you rather...

[Anonymous]

if i won the big won i wold spend it on a house designed around a upcomming layout whats the point in having a layout without a house =)

[Anonymous]

[#ditto]

[ddechamp71]

A new house, so as to be able to design another layout, with less selective compression (even in Z), yet more broader curves, and more features for my prefered line (today I have choice between Caliente/Bealville area and the Loop on my Tehachapi Pass, and it bothers me not to be able to design both).

[Eriediamond]

If I won the big one, I'd move to a cooler location and build a new house on enough acreage to for a grass strip and a couple of hangers, have a basement or a seperate building for my trains and also have an acre for a garden railroad. and then I'd retire. Heck, if yer gonna dream, dream big !!!![(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[AggroJones]

A huge new property out of the ghetto. In a "rich" people neighbor. And a seperate structure to house my layout.

[on30francisco]

I'd spend it on a house preferably with a big basement (very rare in California). It would have to be a huge amount of money to buy a house in the San Francisco Bay Area.

[Anonymous]

I also would definetly buy another house and take my car to West Coast customs to have it pimped out. Just remember when buying or rather building that new house to think floor trusses. With floor trusses(as opposed to typical wood I joists) you could span a distance of roughly 40 feet without the need for support columns getting in the way of the new layout. Just think a 40 ft by 80ft layout with nothing in the way. That's the tip of the day.[:D] So now if you win that big money remember me for consultanting fees
[:D][:o)]

Jeremy

[CP5415]

House here, for the empire I've been planning for sometime with a garage to fit my new vehicles, then I'd donate everything else to my favourite charity....

ME!!! [:D]

Gordon

[Big_Boy_4005]

If you win big money, INVEST IT!!! Then live off the income. That's what I do. Notice I didn't say would. Of course, I didn't win it, I have "dead relatives".

[Anonymous]

New house = new layout, doesnt it?[:0]

[Anonymous]

Thats a no brainer. Basement Empire Dude!

[Jetrock]

Big_Boy makes a good point. Personally I'd prefer to put the money into some investment vehicle that would allow me to retire and pursue my hobbies (including model railroading) full-time, without having to worry about a job (unless I want to have one.)

Think about it--is space really the thing you lack the most in your modeling, or money, or is it TIME? We know how much space we have available, we can estimate how much money we'll have available, but who knows how much time we have on this planet? If I got the big chunk of change I'd quit working (as much) and start playing (much more)!

Being retired would also allow me to spend more time volunteering at the railroad museums where I volunteer (talk about fun!!) and pursue other interests.

[Anonymous]

Assuming that it would be enough money to fully retire with plently left over, I'd move to Northern Idaho like I always wanted to. Have a large log cabin built with plenty of room in the attached 4 car garage that has a loft over head for the trains. A large garden railraod and a few (real) cars from the 30's and 40's. Start a business with my two sons and make sure the family was financially secure!!!!!!!

[ClinchValleySD40]

I already have my dream house, dream basement, dream layout. And autos are boring, so I'd give the money away.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

Big_Boy makes a good point. Personally I'd prefer to put the money into some investment vehicle that would allow me to retire and pursue my hobbies (including model railroading) full-time, without having to worry about a job (unless I want to have one.)

Think about it--is space really the thing you lack the most in your modeling, or money, or is it TIME? We know how much space we have available, we can estimate how much money we'll have available, but who knows how much time we have on this planet? If I got the big chunk of change I'd quit working (as much) and start playing (much more)!

Being retired would also allow me to spend more time volunteering at the railroad museums where I volunteer (talk about fun!!) and pursue other interests.

Way to go Jetrock!!![^] There's a man who understands. This message is aimed mainly at the school age crowd, but it works for everyone. This is how I can spend as much time on the forum as I do.

An example of big money would be $5,000,000 after taxes invested at 5% in some LOW RISK vehicle, such as bonds. That translates into $250,000 per year for doing nothing. You don't have to work, your money works for you!!!![:D]

It's the old saying, give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eat's for a lifetime. Conversely, a fool and his money are soon parted.

[Anonymous]

Basement empire? More like enormous above ground climate controlled clean-room empire.

[cwclark]

I would have to do the "other" as in retire!..i have a big enough house, big enough train room, and just about everything I need to live comfortably...the "Other" would be a nice big motorhome so that i could do extreme railfanning!...I retire in 10 years but sure would be nice to do it earlier than that with those kind of bucks...Chuck

[Noah Hofrichter]

I'd bropably just use the money to modify my existing basement to be completely wide open. I'd relocat all load bearing walls so the entire basement would eb open, and then go to town with a layout based apon the Wisconsin and Southerns Reedsburg Sub, my dream layout. oh and clinchvalley, I'll take the money!![:D][:D]

Noah

[Anonymous]

I would buy a BIG new house with one really big room to work in (12x20), like 2 ajacent bedrooms with connecting wall torn out. Inside the main part of the house. With carpet air conditioning and everything. Basements always seem to have major issues to be overcame to successfully build a model railroad. And it sucks being under ground. Moisture problems and such.

[Anonymous]

a very large layout!

[Darth Santa Fe]

I say "Other", because I'd get a BIG house and a BUNCH of trains and a BIG layout!![:D][:-,][:D] Of coarse, I'd also split the money evenly between my brother and my parents.[:)]

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

Big_Boy makes a good point. Personally I'd prefer to put the money into some investment vehicle that would allow me to retire and pursue my hobbies (including model railroading) full-time, without having to worry about a job (unless I want to have one.)

Think about it--is space really the thing you lack the most in your modeling, or money, or is it TIME? We know how much space we have available, we can estimate how much money we'll have available, but who knows how much time we have on this planet? If I got the big chunk of change I'd quit working (as much) and start playing (much more)!

Being retired would also allow me to spend more time volunteering at the railroad museums where I volunteer (talk about fun!!) and pursue other interests.

Jetrock,

You nailed it for me. I would probably look for investment Real Estate to generate passive income and continue to build an investment portfolio so that I worked only when I wanted to and played when I wanted to.

[DrummingTrainfan]

1, 2, and 3. Decent sized house with a shed and a good basement for at least 2 MRR's and an underground tunnel to connect the shed layout and the basement layout(s) [:-,][:-,][:-^]

[modelmaker51]

I think I would pick up a nice old Pullman car and just have the railroads pull me around endlessly and railfan from the rails.

[TrainFreak409]

I voted for "Other," because there is a mix of things I would do.

I would pay off my Mom's bills, and give her some money.

I would build a custom-designed house to provide me space for my dream layout.

I would buy a car to transport myself to and from the hobby shop.

And then I would build my dream layout![:D]

[Anonymous]

As I was reading all of these posts I was beginning to think like Modelmaker51 but when I got the end, I see that Modelmaker51 already said it. Or, can one rent a train set? Take you and your friends on train trips!

[tankertoad70]

I would definitely go for the new house, one that my wife and I could design around:
1. Hobby and craft interests.
2. Rooms for the kids and grand kids, and others, when they visit.
3. The wife's love of entertaining guests.[:D]

[DrummingTrainfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelmaker51

I think I would pick up a nice old Pullman car and just have the railroads pull me around endlessly and railfan from the rails.

I like that idea. Depending on how much money I come across I could buy myself a set of Superliners (and a baggage car or 2) and maybe 2 F59PH1A's and a (I don't think this exists but I'd have it custom built[:D]) F59PH1B. Boy do I enjoy dreaming!

[loathar]

I have a very sick friend that could really use some help.Then the house with a HUGE layout room,then my own LHS where I live because there aren't any for about 75 miles and I think that's just plain WRONG!

[selector]

Whenever I have indulged in this fantasy (I don't buy lootery...er, I mean lottery tickets on principle) my first thoughts turn to helping in-laws...mother, specifically. Next, I would invest in revenue property. Not the most fun game in town, but if you choose your tenants well, it can work wonders for your bottom line.

All of these would happen in quick order, as well as planning a cruise through the Canal. Big currency with the missus on that one!!

When I got back, tear out current layout, and go through the painful process...if necessary... of submitting a plan to you good folks. I see what Randy, Mouse, Electro, and others are going through, and yer pretty much butt-flap open to the breeze.