Live today, but plan for tomorrow

Sometimes, my work planning for and putting together the contents of PRIME Magazine each month seems prophetic. For example, back in late November when the Publisher, Sales Manager, Marketing Director, Art Director and I sat down to plan the feature stories for the next six months of PRIME, I had no idea that my pitch to do a piece on remodeling and Universal Design would strike so close to home. But how can any of us see the future? Back in November, my nephew had just started taking Tae Kwon Do lessons, and was progressing nicely through the colored belts. Who could have predicted back then that, in late January, he would severely damage his knee when he missed the landing for a flying kick? Who, even the day before the accident, would have ever foreseen a need for accessible one-floor living for a healthy, strong 23-year old? But that's life. And my nephew's misfortune has reminded all of us that life is unpredictable. The lesson ... you can't just look at today ... you must think about tomorrow and how you can adapt. And that's exactly what I learned about remodeling and home design as I researched this month's feature piece on Universal Home Design. The simple premise behind this type of design is adaptability ... if you're going to re-think how you're using space in your home, why not look at the long term, not just the latest fad. And what I discovered is that adaptability doesn't have to mean rooms and fixtures that look institutional or ugly. Take a look at some of the photos that accompany the story especially the cover of the book on accessible home remodeling. They're beautiful. But home design isn't the only place where it's important to think about the vagrancies of the future. As our legal columnist, Gina Barry, explores this month, what would you do if one of your elder relatives suddenly needed your help as a caregiver? Or, as our financial columnist, Paul Provencher, points out, have you really considered the impact your will might have on your heirs? Plan for today ... and tomorrow. And enjoy every good thing that comes your way ... every day. Me, I never waste a good sunset. Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor dgardner@reminderpublications.com