I don't know that I so much enjoy planning for things that are never going to happen, but I damn sure certain do it frequently. Right now, it's a trailer hitch and trailer for my motorcycle. Because I love rough camping but am too old for the real rough part. Like crawling in and out of a tent, or sleeping on the ground (or right next to it) and that sort of stuff. The trailer would give me space to get some amenities that would really add to the joy... ROI is that I'll have to use it until I'm at least 75 to pay the difference in Motel stays. At my age I can't even buy green bananas with confidence that I'll live long enough to use them...

So I've got it figured out what I need to do for my ceilings. It would be really nice to hide the holes there if nothing else. I'm a little stuck with what the minimum I can live with structurally like new lights in kitchen and bath. I have old eyes and can't see well in less than optimum light. But if I put in lights do I need to do some cabinet changing? I mean if I can see it clearly will I notice how awful the current crop is? But I'm pretty close to those decisions today. Sort of.

Idea about the window. What if you just replace the actual window part to put the bottom above your counter? No structural changes at all, and you could just build a nice flower box to take up the difference between where the window is now and where it would end up. Your wife (or maybe better yet, smallsteps) could grow artisan herbs (so much superior to everyday herbs) in it to flavor up the whole kitchen. Just a thought...