the home base is what makes me realise that I never want to sell my house unless I have a house of my own somewhere else. I like a 2nd home, somewhere away from the city, preferably in the woods, or perhaps better, at the side of the woods.

you could indeed cut the 2nd floor and create a large ground floor? if you have sufficient square feet of ground. the swimming pool seems to me a must, it's too warm where you live to not have one.