Any Regrets On Moving To The Farm ?????

[Budweiser John]

Made the decision to leave the city in 1971. Took the assets from the sale of our suburban
House and purchased 80 acres of worn out land (didn't know about such things at the time)
One year old son in tow, managed to cobble together the shell of a house in the span of 60 days
And celebrated our first thanksgiving in November of '71 with 3/4 inch of sheeting
Between us and Mother Nature. The bathroom consisted of a friendly log and bathing
Had all the comforts of a wash tub in front of the wood stove. Needless to say, we didn't
Do much entertaining those first few months other than the infrequent visits of both sets of
In-laws who were convinced we had collectively lost our minds.
In town work to pay the bills race home by way of the lumber yard and continue building.
Work, build, more work, build barn number one, have second child, girl this time, buy beat up
old tractor, come to appreciate mud season......
Give thanks for a spouse who thinks drywall dust is a normal life style and kitchen cabinet
Doors are a **** nuisance but can back a horse trailer a quarter mile down the lane around
The corner and spot on to the paddock gate and load said critters for a trip to the fair grounds

Forty three years now since that first very cold Thanksgiving, two grown kids with loving spouses
Two grand daughters, a home now expanded to accommodate room for holiday guests and gatherings
A late model tractor and equipment, a roomy shop, and barn.
Hard work, true grit, a loving spouse, and faith. Moving to rural Americana? Best decision ever

 

[japody]

What more can I say?

 

[OldMcDonald]

Old MacDonald, congrtats on you book.. I hope it sells thousands of copies and that it prospers you.

I like your courage. That's the right stuff!

Jix, Thank you for your kind thoughts. The book might eventually sell enough to cover the costs, but I doubt it. I probably should not have published - that was not my original intention, it was originally notes of my lifetime experience for my son, but so many people persuaded me I should make a book about farming in so many different places that I went ahead. Only one of those actually purchased a copy when it came out 3 years ago. Friends? I always said I never had any, just acquaintances and good neighbours.

I aimed it at people starting a fresh life in the country, but, personal experience of meeting quite a few (particularly ex-pats here in Portugal and a few Brits via Internet) who ask for advice that is freely given, is that few of them really want to know what works and what does not. They have preconceived ideas about what to do and often fail.

My wife of 43 years (chosen when she was still at school and going on to be trained in Home Economics) have discovered that it takes very little income to eat and drink well and have a happy life. You must enjoy each others' company though if you are farming together because you will rarely be apart.

 

[oosik]

NC REDNECK - - You are to be congratulated!! IMHO, this is one of the most enjoyable threads on all of TBN.

 

[Buppies]

NC REDNECK - - You are to be congratulated!! IMHO, this is one of the most enjoyable threads on all of TBN.

Agree great thread and many more great people. The human spirit is indeed alive and well

 

[JBourquin]

I love reading the stories in this thread. It reminds me to never give up. I may not be exactly where I want to be yet, but I also know that I'm the only one that's gonna' get me there. Keep'em coming.

 

[jrkaye]

Raised in a suburb of Chicago then off to college and the military and moves to CA, PA, CO and finally TX. Currently on 15+ acres in a small valley in West Texas, surrounded by cotton producers, some cattle folk and a few, like us, that have horses. Yes, it's constant upkeep of one fashion or another but the satisfaction of the place looking good and plans for a few more improvements and looking out for miles and seeing.... More miles is wonderful. Everyone smiles and waves, life moves at a slower pace. So what if the nearest big shopping mall is 60 miles away, I can buy everything by either using my laptop or picking up the phone :dance1: . Life is good even when it's tempered by some hard work and long hours in the tractor seat. Then you look over at what you accomplished and/or created and that smile comes right back.

 

[dave1949]

It doesn't sound like moving 20 minutes out of Apex--a growing town of 42,000--would be giving up much in the way of nearby services. I wouldn't count that aspect of it very much pro or con. You would likely plan your trips a bit to combine chores, but that's about it if you don't have kids in school anymore.

Before living on 150 acres here, we lived on 10 acres in a coastal town in southern Maine. From spring through Columbus Day it was pretty busy. In mid-summer you almost needed to make an appointment to get on Route 1. We didn't go anywhere in town during the peak season daytime unless we had to. In the building boom before the recession lots of condos and housing subdivision were going up. It was becoming very suburban hectic. About one more building boom and it won't be much different than living on the outskirts of Boston. Maine people already jokingly call the area 'North Boston.'

That is why we moved to somewhere truly rural. That sounds similar to your mention of new homes and high school coming to your neighborhood, you seem to be looking for some peace and quiet.

I say go for it. In the end having one place to look after is much easier than two. I bet you drive to the farm quite often as it is anyways. Put a sign in the driveway: 'If you lived here, you'd be home now.' I bet it would grow on you very quickly.

Having some acres doesn't mean you have to work yourself to death or try to impress anyone. Do what and as much as you enjoy and let Mother Nature worry about the rest of it.

 

[patrick_g]

Took early retirement in '99 at age 56, spent a year fixing up city house to sell. Wife retired in '00 and we moved from San Diego after 30+ years to south central Oklahoma. Traded our SOCAL dirt postage stamp and cracker box for 160 acres and much of the $ to build a 5000+ sqft 3 level house (walk-out basement) and have a herd of Black Angus currently selling at record prices (400 lb calf at $3.00 a pound.)

Can pee off the front, side, or back porch with nearest neighbors 1/4 mile away with sight line mostly obscured by trees (many pecan.) All medical/dental is 30 miles or 30 min away by car. The only permit required was from Dept of Environmental Quallity for the septic system. I am radio ham and have some antenna towers but no CC&R's or similar BS. Until my towers are so large as to fall under FAA jurisdiction no permit or permission is required.

I can target shoot at 1000 meters on my property as the diagonal dimension is a tad over 0.7 miles or 1138 meters. We have ducks, geese, deer, quail, rabbits, dove, and turkey on the place and over 65 you qualify for a lifetime hunting and fishing lisc. We have 12 ponds, mostly stocked with multiple species including crappie, various sunfish, channel catfish, large mouth bass, perch, etc. We hear coyotes more than see them and have heard AND SEEN mountain lions in our back yard. We see lots of birds and walking critters of various sizes and dispositions.

We are approximately 30 miles from each of the closest 5 Walmart super centers. This is not back side of the moon remote or even in the middle of nowhere (but you can see it from atop the barn.) Gas and road diesel is available less than 2 miles away. Farm diesel is delivered to my overhead tank. Propane is delivered to my two each 1000 gal tanks. TV is via satellite but a good outside antenna would work for a multitude of stations. We are on the edge of DSL service for internet with just enough bandwidth for streaming video (Netflix.)

I designed both sets of stairs as straight runs wide enough to support a chair-lift and not block pedestrian traffic on the stairs. The master suite is on the ground floor and is a steel reinforced concrete safe room with interior steel shutters hidden behind curtains for closing in case of tornado or other reason. In our old age if we are seriously feeble we can live on the ground floor as the basement is just guest facilities and a "pool hall." The upstairs is more guest rooms, the library, a 1000 sq ft tea room, ham shack, etc. So we could get by not negotiating the stairs. The ham shack was once located in my wood shop which is attached to the house proper (just a part of it, not a separate building) so relocating the ham shack downstairs if the stairs become a barrier is not a big deal.

Until or unless there is some overriding concern that dictates otherwise we have no plans for moving to town, E V E R.

Pat NJ5G

 

[nc redneck]

Dave1949 I think your reply hit home thanks. Other reply's are worth there weight in gold also. I do think about no drive time, trailing tractors, cooler, tools and other stuff each trip. I currently maintain 3 property's my house in Apex, commercial rental 7 acres with one house. Commercial rental is triple net so they maintain there 2 acres. I do the other 5 acres plus the farm. A lot in mowing season not so bad in the winter.
It seems the older I get the bigger pain in butt these places become. Commercial I will keep until I fall over dead as it is a gold mine to me. Other stuff can be planned out of over the next few years.
Thanks for all of your thoughts. I like to hear it from those who have been there and done that.
Scott