Isolation versus stimulation
We made another
whirlwind trip to Ohio to look at a property...that, unfortunately
turned out to be another dud. Luckily, our realtor suggested a
different offering that came much closer to hitting the spot.
As we arrow in on what
actually feels right, though, we're having to make some tough
decisions. Do we want more land and more house further off the beaten
path (what I chose the last time around and was very happy with for
very many years)? Or do we want to go in the opposite direction and buy
unimproved land to trailerstead on closer to the location
that drew our attention in the first place?
I've learned over the
past year that I'm willing to drive about 15 minutes to something
fun...while 45 minutes or longer means I only take the plunge rarely
and after extensive vaccillation. Since one of my primary goals of this
move is to give myself a wider range of artistic, social, and
intellectual stimulation off the farm, part of me thinks we should
focus on proximity at the expense of all else. (Mark would love
proximity --- he's less of an isolationist than I am.)
Of course, the
homesteading part of me twitches when I think of all the livestock
doors I'd be closing by settling near neighbors who might not be
thrilled to hear a cock crow (or to see a trailer move in next door).
Meanwhile, the hermit part of me cringes away from being able to see
the road...and of the greater likelihood the area we choose might grow
up around us and squeeze my need of countryside out.
Decisions, decisions. No
matter which direction we go in, I'm glad we made another trip. Images
on the internet really hold no candle to feet on the ground.
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About us: Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton spent over a decade living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Virginia before moving north to start over from scratch in the foothills of Ohio. They've experimented with permaculture, no-till gardening, trailersteading, home-based microbusinesses and much more, writing about their adventures in both blogs and books.
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Hi Anna, Having had to make this very decision through many stages of my life (almost 70 years old now), I'd place stimulation above isolation for this particular move. After all, it is why you are moving in the first place and I'd honor that reason first. And I would be willing to keep searching until the RIGHT place presents itself. I believe it is less expensive to make many exploratory trips to a new place than it is to jump on an OK place just to get moved, then have to shift everything again for something that more closely fits your ideal later on. Even if you could not move until the spring, the intervening time is valuable because in addition to finding that perfect place, it allows you to more effectively de -clutter, to prepare your current place for sale at an optimum price, and to say a proper good-bye to all the bonds formed with people and places, as well as the homestead itself:-) And the very best of luck to you both in your new venture! Lucy
That's what it boils down to, doesn't it?
But if you two want to have more time for writing and film-making, you'd problably do better with a house (and garden) that doesn't need a ton of work.
Personally, for my current place I did the needed work (new kitchen, flooring, decorating) before moving in. It's plain easier that way (without your stuff in the way) and I dislike living in a "project".
Anonymous --- We're glad to (virtually) meet someone from our new stomping grounds! Once we're in our new place, we'd love to meet less virtually.
Everybody else --- Thanks for your thoughtful comments! I've appreciated them all.