They led a very simple life really. Although their house was small it was more than adequate in size to shelter the family and store all their stuff. True, you could tell where the original dwel-ling had been added on to with the birth of each new child. And no one would deny there weren’t times when they could have used an extra bathroom or two. But when you grew up never having heard the sound of a toilet flush you appreciated even the most minor of indoor improvements.

Their closets weren’t full of this year’s fashions from Ralph Lauren or even J.C. Penney. Their preference for old denim jeans, comfortable cotton shirts and spartan accouterments had its roots in their younger years when a change of clothing merely meant you swapped tattered underwear with another sibling.

Some might say they lacked initiative but the home place was paid for, the fences tight and the barn roof didn’t leak much. Their well cared for pastures were full of handsome horses and contented cows that drew an occasional complement from folks who knew and appreciated such things. Life was never so hectic they didn’t have time to train their own dogs or break their own colts. Having three hard working kids meant they viewed employees as an unnecessary complication in life. With a passion for tools and a contentment that came from working with their hands, they preferred used equipment with its implied promise of shop time. Just like old friends, the quirks and shortcomings of familiar things provided a sense of comfort and peace.

They always had time to help the neighbors at branding time, take the kids to horse shows or ball games and even on an occasional vacation. Their daily ritual might include a noon nap on the front porch with the dog, a ballgame with the kids or bingo at their church. They were known in their tight knit community as good parents, reliable neighbors and steady friends. They loved their full and happy life.

Although their place only covered one section it had managed to pay the bills and send all three kids to college. But one by one when the highly educated kids came home as young adults they looked at their parents and wondered why they had not done more with their lives. While it could never be said their parents were allergic to sweat or hard work, it was also true they had never added an acre to the home place or zeros to the bottom line. This puzzled the progeny. After all, their parents did not lack ambition and had plenty of smarts. Surely they could do better. Why not expand? Then they’d be able to retire in their golden years and do all the things they enjoyed doing.

So the oldest son, who worked as a broker in a big eastern city, wrote up a business plan that called for rapid expansion, meetings with bankers, second mortgages, and employees with problems. Their new leaseholds were spread miles apart which meant more hours in the truck and less on the porch.

Sure enough, in less than 25 years of back-breaking, mind-numbing work they had managed to put together quite a nest egg. When they finally sold the place because none of the kids really wanted that lifestyle, they had plenty of money to do all the things they enjoyed doing. Like training their own dogs and riding their own horses. Sleeping in late occasionally, playing catch with the kids or bingo with old friends.