<p>I think I would refrain from telling kids about the windfall. I have a gut feeling knowledge of the huge sudden wealth would ruin their lives. The super effortlessly inherited wealthy I’ve known have seemed sort of unhappy to me.</p>
<p>Gourmetmom- I like your idea! Especially Mario, what a great image. I would add Consuelo in the kitchen whipping up some incredible Italian food too.</p>
<p>I would love to have a “family compound” in a busy beach town somewhere warm and sunny.</p>
<p>When one of my sons was in his “architect” stage, he drew up plans for our family version of the Kennedy compound, with 6 houses: one for us (the parents), one for each boy and his future family, and a house for all the future kids to bunk together in a dorm on the top story with a game room/rec room/kitchen on the first floor, because the boys and their cousins loved to have mass sleepovers. And, finally, an extra house for guests.</p>
<p>The compound of course had a pool and hot tub, a tennis court, a basketball court, soccer/lacrosse/fieldhockey field, tetherball, firepit…</p>
<p>I kept the entire book of sketches. And if any of us ever win the lottery…</p>
<p>and of course was an easy walk to the center of town with cute little shops for pizza, chinese food, indian food, ice cream, a bakery, a candy store, a movie theater and an art gallery with an attached studio for the kids to make ceramics.</p>
<p>A healthy, ready to cook meal waiting in my frig every evening. I would close my retail store and volunteer, so I would love to have that ready when i got home to pop in the oven for a nice dinner with darling H (and he is a keeper) and whichever kids happen to be invading the nest. I will continue to clean my own house, just let someone else cook!</p>
<p>Funny…I’d go UES. And another place in Maui, the healing island. And lots of trips to Europe with my family.</p>
<p>I would also give a lot to cancer and vision research. I don’t want my kids (or anyone’s kids) to go through what my mother and I have gone through.</p>
<p>I would get a home with extra bedrooms for foster kids/teens. And a big rose garden. And a snow blower. I would host CC families in town to for college visits. When I’m not visiting the other CCers with ocean views or Central Park views. Invest in a car repair shop, people are hanging on to their cars a long time.</p>