What's your secret, selfish fantasy life?

Just a small, cosy, peaceful home with a manageable garden out the back (which is a sun trap, obviously). I've always lived in flats so I'm not fussy about huge amounts of space. I've fancied growing my own veg and herbs too. Nice neighbours. I think it's a bit of a unicorn but one day.

A beautiful apartment on the fifth floor of a 1920s building with floor to ceiling windows on the front, stripped floorboards, exposed brick and beautiful furnishings (because there are no boys living there to mess things up) and art, a wall to wall bookcase so I can get all my books out of storage, a kitchen big enough to have a dining table and a large pantry in it. A fire escape on the back to sit out and read on in the summer because I don’t want a garden, and a high ceilinged bedroom with huge California King bed with too many linens. Ideally incredibly walkable, three to five blocks, from Lake Michigan. Nearby coffee shops, a couple of good restaurants, a cinema, bookstore, excellent grocery store with plenty of international ingredients, a 24 hour bodega and a good transit line within easy walking distance.

I’d never willingly give up work because I love my job and I love being busy, but having enough money to go to the theater every other week, to see a band every weekend and out to dinner a couple of times a week would be perfect. A gentleman friend who just stays two nights a week. A wine club subscription, weekend city breaks every quarter and a summer and a winter vacation.

Not much! 😆

My fantasy life is a bit more out there 😆

It involves being contacted by a creature from another world, rediscovering my magic powers and leaving this planet to kick ass elsewhere.

If only!

Living in a rural idyll overlooking the Med on a Greek island, with a garden I'd grown myself and lots of cats (and somehow magically transformed into a sultry beauty who doesn't squint and go lobster red in the sun and looks good in gauzy linens).

Love to live in a big busy city like London or New York in a big penthouse with all encompassing views . Chef and driver available at all times and obviously no cleaning . Meeting for brunch and going to theatre and concerts at night . Also a hair and make up person whenever I wanted . But unless I could share it with friends or family think it could get boring. Maybe a beach house for summer ☀️

Oh also I would have a fireman's pole from my bedroom to my indoor heated pool.

And a wonderful garden with extensive greenhouses and orchards and a giraffe.

In my fantasy life I have just picked out my beautiful engagement ring, it's extremely delicate and I struggle to find one small enough for my slim and elegant fingers. I've chosen my wedding dress, as modelled by Natalie Portman in the Miss Dior ad. Obviously it has to be taken in. My flaxen hair cascades to my waist and my fiancé, who utterly adores me, is Michael Socha. He's rich because he does manly stuff with tools and often rescues me from peril. This peril comes from being just too beautiful, I never wear makeup because, perfection. I'm very demure despite being insanely talented and people are just so shocked when I out Minnie Minnie Ripperton on karaoke. I do work at saving lives but Michael would prefer me to be a housewife. He often picks me up from work on his manly motorbike.

I would own a nice apartment block and have many interesting tenants from different backgrounds who I would look after and treat like family. I would live on site all the time.
I would charge affordable rents im not greedy i cant drive so im not interested in flashy cars.
At christmas and easter i would host a nice big buffet in the communal lounge all paid for.
I love cats so I would have a tuxedo and a black cat.
I suppose I would be a modern day female version of Rigsby in rising damp.

What a lovely thread!!

I’d still have my same City job that I love, but instead of a family and a long commute to the Home Counties…. I’d be alone in a two-bed apartment in Marylebone. With a little white dog called Edna. It’s top floor and has lovely views over the rooftops. There’s an amazing walk in wardrobe, a luxurious hotel bathroom and the biggest, comfiest bed ever!! I’d eat breakfast croissants from Gail’s on my way to work and sushi for dinner.

I’d also have a sporty car that we (me and Edna) drive to my 2-bed cottage in the Cotswolds nearly every weekend. We go to farmers markets and antique shops. There would be an interesting and handsome companion (perhaps a widower/gentleman farmer who lives in the Cotswolds) and we’d have dinner out on Saturdays and then stay in bed until lunchtime each Sunday 😂 Then I’d head back to my city life.

Having the money to be able to fund water projects in the parts of Africa that need it and re-forestation of the jungles in south America. I'd then be able to sit in the grounds of my large house with the grounds full of rescued animals knowing that I'd actually done something with my life - and scoff enormous amounts of sugary fattening food and not put weight on

My day job would involve animal rescue work, female education in developing countries and loneliness in the elderly. I’d have a chocolate box cottage in the Cotswolds with a few dogs and a swimming pool. And also a flat in London for gigs, plays, restaurants, sporting events etc. And just go between as and when I fancied. Lots of mini breaks.

Maybe Ai would get involved in restoring old buildings. And renting them to those in need for free.

I genuinely would love just to hand out wads of cash to people at places like a food bank.

Maybe a handsome, f1 driver boyfriend who visited when I beckoned.

Mine is being a beautiful doctor and exobiologist joining the first Enterprise and developing a romantic relationship with the ridiculously hot Chief of Security/armory officer.

I would live in a new build or recently renovated and immaculate house, no more than 3 bedrooms, in a posh part of London, have a comfortable income without needing to work so that I could do all the school stuff including the PTA, cook nutritious meals from scratch, go to Pilates during the day, swan about at a nice club or two and improve my tennis, have x2-3 luxury holidays per year and dabble in small projects like writing or renovating furniture. I would also drive a massive electric car and wear huge sunglasses.

My exact life, with Millions in the bank.

I love the sound of this life, I have some similar aspects to my fantasy life..but I have one question...what football team do you support?

My alternative fantasy life (I haven't worked out the logistics of where husband and the kids fit, I think they just don't exist) when falling asleep at night is either:
a) A beautiful rose draped thatched cottage in the Cotswold's where it's always spring/summer (apart from a week at Christmas) and I potter about (but the beautiful garden just keeps itself ticking over with no intervention from me)
b) I live in a converted van travelling the US. The van is a tardis, normal sized outside but big enough inside to hold my things and not feel like I live in a space the size of my downstairs toilet.

I assume I have some kind of unlimited funds in both cases.

Various places (seaside cottage, historical flat in Rome, a sailboat...) but always with the bare minimum of possessions. I've accepted I have too much stuff in real life so I fantasise about owning 1 perfume, 2 pairs of shoes, etc.

I love this thread! Counting real blessings, there isn’t much I would change except there would be less domestic drudgery (cleaning, laundry, shopping, washing up. I don’t mind cooking most of the time). And more time and more money.

in complete fantasy land, I would live next to a beach I could swim from, have enough money and some interesting work (my work now, but better paid 😂) but with enough space around the work to walk, swim, draw/paint, drink coffee and wine, stare at the sea, and do yoga. And I would have clean sheets every day (but not have to change the bed, I would have fairies to do that. Happy ones that love doing domestic jobs 😂😂). I’d see my dc living best life, visiting each other from time to time. I’d have DH with me but we would each have our own spaces.

My life now except the house is ours, bought and paid off (not rented) and I'm 2 stone lighter!

I love my job but would feel less pressure and do less plate spinning if money wasn't a worry.

One that's a bit more realistic is...

Having a full time housekeeper/nanny who works 7-3 Monday to Friday. They can get the kids ready for drop off then takes them to school. I get up around 8 and leave the housekeeper to clean/tidy and prepare meals for the day then head for a run/gym/yoga.

I do school pick up and we can come home knowing everything is taken care of.

Husband also doesn't work so he can spend his days doing what he needs to do.

Weekends can be spent as a family without the drudge of domesticity. We don't have any money worries so we can do something fun every single weekend and not stress about the cost.

We may or may not have a dog in this equation, maybe the housekeeper could take it for the morning walk on the school run, I could do the afternoon and husband could do the evening. We could afford a dog walker/sitter for the occasions we wanted to go away.

A bigger house with a bit of a bigger garden so everyone has space with room for a games room for when the kids are teenagers. We can be the house where everyone comes to hang out. Pool table, arcade games, fridges with food, drinks and a microwave. Beer when they are old enough.

One can dream..

Living in a tree house high up on a Canadian maple tree.

I very nearly did "do" my fantasy life when I was separating from my ex, but I met my now husband before I jumped. If not, I would have done it, for a short time at least.

I have a very nice life, but if I could change anything I'd have all the time in the world to do kayaking and canoeing, plus associated volunteering and stay on top of the garden, I'd have a cross between a campervan and minibus so I could go on trips and also take the team to tournaments, I'd either be having a freewheeling romance with a hot kayaker or DH would appreciate me. I'd have a couple of cats and be at target weight.

Well said. It's so all of nothing for me at the moment.
I want occasional spontaneity, some free time, occasional but regular solitude... and then I'd be very happy.
At the moment it's the grip of responsibilities 365 and I'm never alone. 🤯

@hairymclary45 This sounds like a perfect weekend away! Find yourself a little AirBnB and live the dream while DH takes care of the kids.