Skiing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. The exhilarating rush of a fast run, the unique crunch of fresh snow under my first steps, and the unmatched clarity of a snowy night on the mountain...I simply cannot get enough. There were times during my twenties when I couldn't afford to ski, but I made do by camping on glaciers, rock climbing, and leading backpacking trips through alpine forests. No matter where I have lived, the mountains have always been a part of my life. Even my children developed a love for the snow at an early age, starting their ski or snowboard journeys at just three years old. It wouldn't surprise me if my DNA revealed that mountaineering runs in my family - perhaps even half of us are part goats.

 

During holidays, weekends, and random friend gatherings, our go-to destination was the closest world-class mountain in the area - Mammoth. Just like everyone else, we would ride the gondola from the village to the slopes. As we glided over the houses below, I would envision the residents - lounging around in their stocking feet, frying up some bacon and casually making eggs after 10 am. The rising steam from their homes suggested they had a fancy coffee setup or were preparing to soak in their hot tub with a chilled glass of chardonnay. I always tried to track their skiing route from the lodge to their house and rate the property accordingly. As I wiped goo from my little one's nose, I couldn't help but envy those who could just stay home in their snow-covered houses and observe frazzled moms dropping poles/phones/husbands off the lift from a distance.

 

In everyday life, we live in idyllic Santa Monica, where the income to housing ratio is brutal, and just remaining here is a feat. However, it provides achievers with the best beaches, sunshine, and food in the country. Each time we left the mountains though, the dream remained in the rearview mirror.

 

Over the course of two decades, my husband and I built a mobile games company (with the help of some really cool people), and by a stroke of luck and a whole load of hard work, we sold it. Level unlocked. We were on the path to the vacation home of our dreams.This is the story of how it started, and how it's going.