Home > Blogs > John G. Johnston > WestcliffeCO blog

Quality of life; what does that mean to you?

By John G. Johnston

Real Estate Broker/Owner with John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC CO# 40018324

April 23, 2013 01:45 PM

Quality of Life; What Does It Mean to You?

I traded the corporate world at age 50 for the Rocky Mountains, clean air and water, blue sky, breathtaking views, wildlife and a life!

I would guess in our profession that ActiveRainer’s make up the top 10% of happy successful people in the real estate industry. On the local level you can listen to past agents complain you can’t make a living selling real estate around here. Our numbers have dropped from 69 agents in 2009 to 28 today. You will never hear me complain about my work.

Most days our office is open at 7:30am. Most competitors open at 9:00am. We work a lot of hours and I learned a long time ago not to try and keep up with my wife! For time off, we have to pack up and leave town.

Yes, we work hard…but we are not stuck in rush hour traffic. Driving around showing real estate you are likely to see more wildlife than vehicles. When I slam on the brakes it is not because someone cut me off but a deer ran in front of me. (We are the county seat and there is not a red light in this county!)

I know that Rainer’s know what quality of life is all about so I’m not telling you anything new.

But to me, quality of life is clean air and water, blue sky, breathtaking views, mountains, wildlife…and a smile on my wife’s face!

Quality of life; what does that mean to you?

Re-Blog

Comments(9)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

You're living our dream life....... I must disassociate with you now....LOL

Kidding on the disassociation :)

Apr 23, 2013 01:53 PM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

l like that!

Love and light,

Laura

Apr 23, 2013 01:59 PM

Marte Cliff

Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID

Your real estate writer

John - I've lived in cities for short periods enough times to know that I wouldn't willingly stay. It's not possible to make as much money here as we could have made somewhere else - but moving to a city would mean we'd have to trade something too valuable to give up.

I laughed about your lack of stop lights. One of my dearest friends is a lady I met when she and her husband hired my husband to build their barn, and then their house. They came from Whidby Island, where they commuted into Seattle proper to work each day. They were SO thrilled to be moving to a small town where there were NO stop lights.

And then... on the day they made the final trip over with the last load of furniture, they started down the hill into town and Sally started to laugh. Willie kept asking her "What? What?" (how he drives when he doesn't see so well, I don't know) and she said "You'll see." When they made it to the junction of Highways 2 and 57 there it was: Our town's first stop light.

One good thing - that was nearly 20 years ago and that stop light is still a lone ranger in our town.

Apr 23, 2013 02:27 PM

Joe Petrowsky

Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT

Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

I have never known and will never know what corporate America is. Actually I have never worked for anyone, I would probably a bad employee. I give anyone credit that does for corporate America, as it is not for me.

Apr 23, 2013 06:27 PM

Carol Zingone

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL

Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS

Quality of life is crucial, and so many people get tempted by the paycheck/bonuses/perks, you name it, and end up working in a soulless place for years....Not me!

Apr 23, 2013 09:08 PM

John G. Johnston

John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO

An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

John Q Yep, and we drink our longnecks!

Laura I like that too! Thanks for commenting and enjoy the day!

Marte I'm a town trustee and we are working with DOT to resolve a problem at the main intersection. Heaven help if it is a light! That was a funny story. I realized years ago I could work and save to live the life I wanted...or just go live the life I wanted!!!! Enjoy your day.

Joe And I used working for corporate America very loosely as I too have always been self employed. I would fire myself the 1st day if I was an employee. Thanks for sharing...and enjoy

Carol Life is meant to be enjoyed...not something you save for! That is one thing I love about here...we got soul! Thanks for commenting and enjoy the day!

Apr 24, 2013 04:49 AM

Debbie Laity

Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO

Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I made my change in my mid 20s. I had started a career in broadcasting when I was a teenager, and I was on the fast track to success, but this didn't leave me much personal time. It was stressful. I decided to take a job in public radio...temporarily. I need to slow things down and get a new perspective. I was going to do this for about a year. So I moved to a ski town in Colorado. WELLLLLL...I never went back.

Apr 24, 2013 11:06 PM

Debbie It sounds like you have lived an exciting and full life! Enjoy the day

Apr 24, 2013 11:50 PM

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID

Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Wow, 28 agents? I can't even imagine that! You must all work together all the time. What a different environment in the real estate community that must be. Meanwhile, it sounds like a lovely, lovely place. I would love to live in a place like you have described! -Kasey

Apr 25, 2013 02:30 PM

Quality of life; what does that mean to you?

Comments(9)

John G. Johnston

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts