Thank you all for your responses. Obviously asking for all of your input and drawing upon this communities experiences has been a very valuable.
I am going with the cottage. In the time that I posted this I have done a great deal more research and I am now very much looking forward to being in the cottage. Going to be 12'x24' with a wood stove, with R60 attic, R38 walls and R30 floor insulation. The total of the added tax bill to the property will only be $30 a year. I'm not looking forward to the walks from the cottage to the house for the bathroom but heck I figure if my for-fathers survived walking to the cold out house for centuries I can easily survive walking a short distance to a heated bathroom.
As far as the 5-6 years to finish my Masters Degree. I am not attending full time, because I still wish to work full time. Three to five courses per semester.
Again thank you all for your input. You have helped me more then may ever know. I wish you all happiness in your lifes journeys and hey who knows, maybe ten years from now I might be back. Having finished college, owning an RV but for Recreational use.
