Meet the Dushman Family
This month, Stroll Inside the Gates spotlights the Dushman family. Larry and Linda Dushman are both originally from Massachusetts, and they first met while they were both enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. “We were floormates during our freshman year of college,” recounts Linda. “Then, we became friends, best friends, and as platonic roommates we moved off campus to a townhome apartment with two other friends. Then… everything changed! Getting married was the best decision we ever made, because we both got to marry our best friend!”
Larry and Linda have been blessed with two amazing children, Brad and Nicole, who now have families of their own. Brad and his wife Tracey live in Peachtree City with their wonderful, blended family. This includes Tracey’s two children, Christopher and Kaitlinn, and Brad and Tracey’s young ones, Addison (4) and Grayson (1). Nicole and her husband Jared have two children of their own, Lily (7) and Alex (5). “We are ‘Lolli and Pop’ to our grandchildren, and they all know that Lolli carries lollipops.” adds Linda and Larry. “We are so blessed with our four grandchildren and two bonus grandchildren!”
Over the years, Larry and Linda lived in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Florida before finally deciding to move to Georgia in 1996. Their first home in The Peach State was Peachtree City. Linda adds, “It is truly a fabulous city with 90 miles of golf cart paths and a wonderful school system for our children.”
Linda and Larry have always been drawn to lake life. “When I was growing up, my parents had a house on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and I enjoyed many vacations, holidays, and summers on that lake for more than 20 years,” continues Linda. “When I met Larry, he too enjoyed time at Lake Winnipesaukee with me. This is why, while living in Peachtree City, Larry and I both had the urge to spend more time on a lake. During the summer of 2000, we spent most weekends in the summer going to every lake within an hour and a half of Peachtree city between Georgia and Alabama. Ultimately, we decided that Lake Oconee was the lake for us. Overjoyed, we bought our first boat and came up every single weekend for the next two summers while that boat was stored at Sugar Creek Marina. We had so much fun with our kids and their friends all the time! We loved it so much that we decided we needed to figure out how we could afford a second home and enjoy Lake Oconee even more.”
In 2003, Linda and Larry purchased their second home in Long Island Forest, Eatonton. After Nicole graduated high school, they decided it was finally time to move to the lake permanently. In 2007, they moved to Eatonton full-time. “After some years living in that house, we knew the lake was for us but not where we were currently living,” Linda recounts. “Again, we investigated the neighborhoods of Lake Oconee, and after meeting some wonderful friends through our congregation, we knew Reynolds was the place for us. Between the wonderful people, the wine and social events, the activities, the incredible restaurants, and the overall sense of community, it fit everything we were hoping for and more. Larry really wanted a fixer upper - he is the handiest guy I know. After looking for a few years, we finally purchased our home in Reynolds Lake Oconee in 2015. Our house slowly became our home, filled with our personality, and it continues to evolve as we do. There is always some sort of remodel or update every single year! We make a great team, designing plans and making purchase decisions together. Larry is quite a perfectionist, so if he can, he will do the work himself and do an amazing job at it! For a major remodel he is always around overseeing and playing some part in the process.”
For their work, Larry and Linda own trademark registrations for classifications for the brand “Aspen” and license the name to retailers. They also own a plastic distribution company. “We know retirement is on the horizon and look forward to enjoying it in Georgia’s Lake Country,” They state. “Our favorite pastime with family and friends is boating. We love going out on the lake and our granddaughters especially love riding the wave runner. Nothing is more relaxing than floating, drinking, and just being on the water. In fact, during the week (around 5 PM when it is quiet on the water), I will take Larry slalom waterskiing! We love calling the lake our own backyard”
Larry and Linda also love playing games and entertaining family and friends. “I cannot tell you how many friends we have turned on to ‘play nine’, which is so much fun with a large group!” adds Linda. “Also, I have been playing Mah-jongg for over 30 years, and a few years ago I learned Canasta. I have weekly Mah-Jongg and Canasta games with my dearest friends, and I am also happy to take on Larry any day at shuffleboard on our court.” Linda also enjoys acrylic painting on canvas and has filled their home with her artwork. She is a proud member of the Eatonton Artisan Guild. In his free time, Larry is an avid Pickleball player. He loves the game and the wonderful people he has met through the sport. He has made many great friends that have become our great friends! Both their son and son-in-law also play pickleball, and Larry and Brad have even played in tournaments together.
“We absolutely love living in Reynolds Lake Oconee, and cannot imagine living anywhere else,” concludes Linda. “We love our friends and this lifestyle. Every morning, I wake up, I open my blinds, and I say, ‘what a beautiful morning at Lake Oconee’. We are so blessed with our family, friends, and the feeling that we are indeed living where we are meant to be. This is it!”
