Innkeeper's Story

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Life of an Innkeeper: Daring to Imagine a Different Life

from Genesee Country Inn B&B

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In 1971, after we were married, Richard and I began a life’s journey that would span six states, 16 cities, and 13 houses. During this time, we raised three wonderful boys and I had the opportunity to teach in a plethora of school districts a myriad of courses. Later in my career as an administrator, Richard and I talked about what we would like to do after we retired from our “jobs.” Travel? Maybe. New career? Perhaps. Move back home to New York? Possible. All this talk planted seeds for a different life. What would I like to do? Although I had taught most of my life, I had experiences as a writer, a librarian, a public relations specialist, a marketing manager, an accounting supervisor, and a few odd jobs to add to the mix. My interests were wide and varied, from cooking and baking to sewing and knitting to redecorating a room and painting my house. Richard enjoyed gardening, working outside, building and repairing things around the house. I wondered how I could put all of these things we love to do into one life. This became the dream – the dream of another lifestyle.

I’ve always enjoyed living in older homes and appreciate the historical significance. Wouldn’t it be cool to own a bed and breakfast? Then we could do all those things we love and work out of our home. Now that was a very neat idea!

So the search began. The biggest question was where. Where did we want to live? There were so many choices and so many decisions to make. Do we want to live in the city or in the country? How many rooms do we need? Do we want private bathrooms or shared bathrooms or both. I looked all over Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, of course. I think I knew every bed and breakfast that was for sale in New England. I read about owning a bed and breakfast and dreamed about owning my own. Richard and I had lived in the northeast, Florida, and Arkansas but knew New York is where we belonged.

It took six years for us to find the perfect place. The very first time we walked onto the property of the Genesee Country Inn, we knew this was the place. The Inn had 10 rooms with private bathrooms, eight acres, and a separate little house for us and our pets. Unfortunately, Richard was not ready to retire, but I was ready to leave my work to start this new life. We knew this was the right move. The question was how were we going to do this. Richard and I were still living in Arkansas at the time. We decided that I would move to New York and he would remain in Arkansas until he could retire. It would be eight months before Richard would retire from Travelers and join me in New York to live the lifestyle we had dreamed about - owning a bed and breakfast and enjoying the “romance” of the Inn. What a great life and we are living the dream!

Deborah and Richard Stankevich own the Genesee Country Inn Bed and Breakfast in Mumford, New York. They live in the “little house” behind the Inn with their dogs, Bentley and Cooper, their cat, Sam, and a tank of community fish.

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