Well Ashley, I read all your blog about moving and all the comments. I'm 83 yo and thank God daily that I can live alone in my home, with relative..........actually very good health. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I enjoy every day. I have lived in many US states and in Europe for 3 yrs. The first part of your comments distressed me to hear you live as though in someone else's home. It's yours until it's not. At the end, you realized that yourself. Good for you. Take care and enjoy the fruits of your labor until you actually have to move.
"It's yours until it's not." Truth, but it definitely took me all year to come to that conclusion. I'm not good at transitions, and I've only moved a few times in my life. I know this type of thing is old hat to most people, but I find it so tricky every time. Thank you Ruth!
Such a beautiful article. I've hit 50+ now and over the last few years here and after our daughter was born I had to make the tough choice of giving up many of the homesteading things around here because I can't keep up with it all. I know how tough it is to do, the hardest was my raised gardens and extensive flower beds were replaced by lawn and down sized.
We have chickens here, I'm in CT, a short drive from VT, I'd be happy to deliver for you any amount of fertilized eggs you'd like. We have a mix of breeds and our rooster is an EasterEgger. We've had great success and raised a number of friendly chicks in the last years.
Best wishes finding a new home, it's an awful time to look. Be patient, everything happens for a reason and when the timing is right you'll find it. Until then enjoy today, it's all we ever really have.
Thank you so much Mary Anne. We also gave up most of our homestead stuff when our littles were born. The bees died the winter I was pregnant with my daughter, and then we processed our pigs with an 8 week old and sold all our our poultry. Amazing how one little baby takes up as much time/energy as literally dozens of farm animals. You can only do so much, especially with little ones that come first.
We've found some beautiful chickens locally, with a rainbow of eggs, so we're all set there. Wherever we end up I'll still be "homesteading" as it's more than a lifestyle to me, it's my life and that's not changing. Even if we lived in Manhattan I'd still be foraging. But we're looking for a new homestead with more space than we have now, so it's just the opposite. We'll hopefully be doing even more, but time will tell.
The things happening in Canada, at least what we see on the news here, are pretty scary and I do wish you the best of luck navigating all of that. Take care, and know that downsizing to take care of those you love is never a loss, it's just having your priorities in the right place.
This article is exactly what I needed just now. I've been recovering from an illness these last couple weeks and have found myself slightly depressed; without a purpose except just getting through the days. As always, you have written a remarkably relatable article that reminded me what living for a purpose can do for the soul. Thank you for sharing this and uplifting my sagging spirits yet again! Best wishes for you and your family!
Wonderful Lin, I'm so glad it's helpful to you. I wish you the best in recovery, and hope you can find ways to add purpose to to your days, even in small ways, while you recover. *Sending positive vibes for a speedy recovery*
Ashley, I've moved many times and, every time, I've taken heart that I've left the place better than when I found it. The soil is better, the stone walls are fixed and kept up, the wood lot is in good shape, and the dwelling and outbuildings are all in good repair. You'll find the perfect place. - Howard
That is a really beautiful way to look at it, thank you Howard. I've moved precious few times in my life, and I definitely don't have the practice at it most people do. This place is much better than when we found it, especially the soil. There's pride in that for sure.
Years ago I went back to Oregon to visit a place that my then wife and I “homesteaded” years earlier. I wanted to see what was left and explore what my feelings would be upon returning to that place. I found some evidence of our earlier presence; pottery shards of a pot we used to collect water, a piece of tin with a painted heart, some large foundation stones from our crude construction. I sat on the ground and cried. I cried for the loss of those people who had lived there (me and my wife). It was like they were dead (they are). We are different people today than we were yesterday. Yesterday and tomorrow are illusions. Living today is all that is real and sustaining.
Oh my goodness Glenn, so much truth there. Even thinking back to the people we were 10 years ago when we moved to this land...those people are dead already, and new ones in their place. We've changed so much, and I cant imagine what looking back even further will bring. Walking this land many years from now, as you describe doing with yours.
It's not wrong to morn for their loss, even if no one is technically dead in the physical sense. Very well said, thank you.
GIRL! Don't scare me like that! Also getting me all teary! You've been such an inspiration for the past ?2 years? I've been following your page. So many of the ideas I have for our new place comes from your posts, I would miss you terribly if you stopped but you do what you need to do for what's best for your family. Wherever you land, you will bring hope, creation and life. Blessings on you and your family.
No worries, we're not going anywhere. At least, online we're not going anywhere. That's one reason it's so hard to find a place, I'm not sure I could live somewhere you could see the road from the house ever again. Thirty plus acres and room for a growing family is hard to find these days!
No matter where we end up, we'll still be canning, foraging and all that. That's my life, and that's not changing no matter where we live.
Thank you for these words, Ashley. AT 82, and realizing that my time on earth is getting more limited, it was easy to kind of opt out of living these past few years. And, frankly that has left me feeling depressed, blue, and useless/hopeless. I miss not looking forward to the seasons, to travel, to planning more than an annual garden. And, I'm tired of living with the "what's the use" attitude. So, thank you for writing about your own "valley of hopelessness/uselessness/disuetude". I need to go summer prune my little fruit trees planted before I fell into despond.
Good for you Pat, and I hope you're able to break out of that despondency more permanently. It's a rough place to be in, I've been there for sure. They say that "a society thrives when men plant trees in whose shade they will never sit" and that's true no matter the reason...even if it is hard to do.
Having read your blog for a while now and knowing how much love you have put into this land, I cannot help but feel sad for you and your family as you face the prospect of leaving. I wish that I could buy this land off you and treasure it as much as you have but, alas, I live in Canada. Having said that, I am so impressed that you have chosen to live in the moment, and what a beautiful moment it is. With that attitude, no matter where or when you go, you are already truly blessed. Thinking of you and yours.
If you don't mind my asking, are you thinking of leaving Vermont? I'm currently in Maryland with an HOA which severely limits what I am able to do. I've only been to Vermont once, but in addition to being beautiful, VT has optimal population density (relative to where I am, anyway which is grossly overdeveloped) and seems to be retaining a sense of ecological protections. It is on my short list of places to move and start a proper homestead. Since you actually live there I'd be interested if you see the tides changing, so-to-speak, that make it no longer ideal.
Vermont does have the benefits you mention...low population density, ecological protections, etc. It is stunningly beautiful too.
On the downside, taxes are high, both income and property taxes, compared to almost anywhere else in the country. Roads are rough on cars, and any spot of rust means your car can't pass inspection (ie. you must drive a car thats no more than 4ish years old) and heat/electric/etc are expensive. When you add it all up, relative cost of living is higher than California by far, which is saying a lot...California is an expensive place to live. Lots of the costs are hidden, and you won't really learn about them until you're here a year or two, and I've only mentioned a few.
Beyond that, there's a demographic challenge the state will have to recon with soon...as most people that live here are over 60, and around 10% of the working age population is on disability. Unemployment is always very low, which is nice if you're seeking a job, but horrible if your plumbing breaks and you need to wait 8+ weeks for anyone to look at it. Same goes for your roof, electrical, etc.
Healthcare has wait lists of 3 months to 3 years for even basic things, so you'll be in high demand if you're an MD.
All in all, it is a stunning place to enjoy, but a tough place to live if you unless you are in fact living in a cabin far from the grid and are completely self sufficient. If you need anything from anyone in terms of goods or services, it can be tricky.
Thank you so much for this detailed reply! Very interesting. I'm not an MD, but rather live in MD (Maryland). Should have written it out initially :) I guess the grass is always greener in some ways, but all about what individual priorities are in a particular location. Thank you again!!
Ha, oops! I miss read that. Many parts of Maryland are quite beautiful too, and at least the rural parts I've seen are not all that different than the more developed parts of Vermont. The grass is always greener, you're right. It's tricky, and it really depends on what you're looking for.
Oh so relatable. Given that "here" is truly where we are, you might as well live fully and enjoy the hard earned fruits of your labors and stewardship. Your kids will also learn that aspiring doesn't mean sacrificing "NOW" which was a lesson I learned later in life. I have a friend who took a 9 month lease on an apartment many hears ago. She painted and decorated as though it was for forever. I thought she was nuts. She said, I deserve to be happy and feel at peace when I come home. Indeed! I'm very happy for you and your family.
Good Afternoon Ashley, we were thinking the about moving also. But decided not too also. We are seniors and things are getting harder for us to keep up with. We've decided to stay put, at least for now. Never know what the future holds. May God Bless you in all your adventures in life.
Oh Ashley, this was like balm to my soul. We’re renters, looking for our forever land, with no savings or way to purchase it. I assume we’ll be renting for the next little while until some strange and wonderful situation comes our way. While renting, I’ve never set up as if this was a forever home. There is so much mobile furniture and no blinds but blankets, and no garden. If we don’t move before March, we’ve decided to screw it and plant here. This is the last year without a garden. I’ve done what I can with a 2-year old to forage and wild harvest but it is not enough to have a meal. Thanks for your open share. I’m right along with you.
It's a tough place to be, but there are a lot of people there, especially in this economy. We really hope to move next year...but no matter what I'm planting a big garden next year. Maybe I'll have to leave it, but so it goes. If we're leaving, it's because we've found the perfect place, and if not, we'll have a beautiful garden. It's a win either way.
I hope you find your perfect place, through some strange and wonderful situation that comes your way as you say, but if not, I bet you're going to have an epic garden come next March. Enjoy it!
This article had a real sense of romanticism, poetic. Something that most all could relate to I think. Could be the beginning of a beautiful book. Thank you
Well Ashley, I read all your blog about moving and all the comments. I'm 83 yo and thank God daily that I can live alone in my home, with relative..........actually very good health. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I enjoy every day. I have lived in many US states and in Europe for 3 yrs. The first part of your comments distressed me to hear you live as though in someone else's home. It's yours until it's not. At the end, you realized that yourself. Good for you. Take care and enjoy the fruits of your labor until you actually have to move.
"It's yours until it's not." Truth, but it definitely took me all year to come to that conclusion. I'm not good at transitions, and I've only moved a few times in my life. I know this type of thing is old hat to most people, but I find it so tricky every time. Thank you Ruth!
Such a beautiful article. I've hit 50+ now and over the last few years here and after our daughter was born I had to make the tough choice of giving up many of the homesteading things around here because I can't keep up with it all. I know how tough it is to do, the hardest was my raised gardens and extensive flower beds were replaced by lawn and down sized.
We have chickens here, I'm in CT, a short drive from VT, I'd be happy to deliver for you any amount of fertilized eggs you'd like. We have a mix of breeds and our rooster is an EasterEgger. We've had great success and raised a number of friendly chicks in the last years.
Best wishes finding a new home, it's an awful time to look. Be patient, everything happens for a reason and when the timing is right you'll find it. Until then enjoy today, it's all we ever really have.
Thank you so much Mary Anne. We also gave up most of our homestead stuff when our littles were born. The bees died the winter I was pregnant with my daughter, and then we processed our pigs with an 8 week old and sold all our our poultry. Amazing how one little baby takes up as much time/energy as literally dozens of farm animals. You can only do so much, especially with little ones that come first.
We've found some beautiful chickens locally, with a rainbow of eggs, so we're all set there. Wherever we end up I'll still be "homesteading" as it's more than a lifestyle to me, it's my life and that's not changing. Even if we lived in Manhattan I'd still be foraging. But we're looking for a new homestead with more space than we have now, so it's just the opposite. We'll hopefully be doing even more, but time will tell.
The things happening in Canada, at least what we see on the news here, are pretty scary and I do wish you the best of luck navigating all of that. Take care, and know that downsizing to take care of those you love is never a loss, it's just having your priorities in the right place.
This article is exactly what I needed just now. I've been recovering from an illness these last couple weeks and have found myself slightly depressed; without a purpose except just getting through the days. As always, you have written a remarkably relatable article that reminded me what living for a purpose can do for the soul. Thank you for sharing this and uplifting my sagging spirits yet again! Best wishes for you and your family!
Wonderful Lin, I'm so glad it's helpful to you. I wish you the best in recovery, and hope you can find ways to add purpose to to your days, even in small ways, while you recover. *Sending positive vibes for a speedy recovery*
Yes! This article hit me the same way. The sense of purpose goes so deep in our soul.
Ashley, I've moved many times and, every time, I've taken heart that I've left the place better than when I found it. The soil is better, the stone walls are fixed and kept up, the wood lot is in good shape, and the dwelling and outbuildings are all in good repair. You'll find the perfect place. - Howard
That is a really beautiful way to look at it, thank you Howard. I've moved precious few times in my life, and I definitely don't have the practice at it most people do. This place is much better than when we found it, especially the soil. There's pride in that for sure.
Yes Ashley. What you said.
Happy home hunting.
Years ago I went back to Oregon to visit a place that my then wife and I “homesteaded” years earlier. I wanted to see what was left and explore what my feelings would be upon returning to that place. I found some evidence of our earlier presence; pottery shards of a pot we used to collect water, a piece of tin with a painted heart, some large foundation stones from our crude construction. I sat on the ground and cried. I cried for the loss of those people who had lived there (me and my wife). It was like they were dead (they are). We are different people today than we were yesterday. Yesterday and tomorrow are illusions. Living today is all that is real and sustaining.
Oh my goodness Glenn, so much truth there. Even thinking back to the people we were 10 years ago when we moved to this land...those people are dead already, and new ones in their place. We've changed so much, and I cant imagine what looking back even further will bring. Walking this land many years from now, as you describe doing with yours.
It's not wrong to morn for their loss, even if no one is technically dead in the physical sense. Very well said, thank you.
GIRL! Don't scare me like that! Also getting me all teary! You've been such an inspiration for the past ?2 years? I've been following your page. So many of the ideas I have for our new place comes from your posts, I would miss you terribly if you stopped but you do what you need to do for what's best for your family. Wherever you land, you will bring hope, creation and life. Blessings on you and your family.
No worries, we're not going anywhere. At least, online we're not going anywhere. That's one reason it's so hard to find a place, I'm not sure I could live somewhere you could see the road from the house ever again. Thirty plus acres and room for a growing family is hard to find these days!
No matter where we end up, we'll still be canning, foraging and all that. That's my life, and that's not changing no matter where we live.
Thank you for these words, Ashley. AT 82, and realizing that my time on earth is getting more limited, it was easy to kind of opt out of living these past few years. And, frankly that has left me feeling depressed, blue, and useless/hopeless. I miss not looking forward to the seasons, to travel, to planning more than an annual garden. And, I'm tired of living with the "what's the use" attitude. So, thank you for writing about your own "valley of hopelessness/uselessness/disuetude". I need to go summer prune my little fruit trees planted before I fell into despond.
Good for you Pat, and I hope you're able to break out of that despondency more permanently. It's a rough place to be in, I've been there for sure. They say that "a society thrives when men plant trees in whose shade they will never sit" and that's true no matter the reason...even if it is hard to do.
I needed this today. The timing could not have been more perfect! Thank you! I am so glad I found you. ❤
I'm so glad Melissa!
Hi Ashley,
Having read your blog for a while now and knowing how much love you have put into this land, I cannot help but feel sad for you and your family as you face the prospect of leaving. I wish that I could buy this land off you and treasure it as much as you have but, alas, I live in Canada. Having said that, I am so impressed that you have chosen to live in the moment, and what a beautiful moment it is. With that attitude, no matter where or when you go, you are already truly blessed. Thinking of you and yours.
I’d love it, too! I’m a fellow Canadian fan….
Thank you Bernie!
Beautiful! Just one of the many reasons I love reading your articles. Thanks for your openness and I am so happy you have a new resolve!
Thank you Alice!
If you don't mind my asking, are you thinking of leaving Vermont? I'm currently in Maryland with an HOA which severely limits what I am able to do. I've only been to Vermont once, but in addition to being beautiful, VT has optimal population density (relative to where I am, anyway which is grossly overdeveloped) and seems to be retaining a sense of ecological protections. It is on my short list of places to move and start a proper homestead. Since you actually live there I'd be interested if you see the tides changing, so-to-speak, that make it no longer ideal.
Vermont does have the benefits you mention...low population density, ecological protections, etc. It is stunningly beautiful too.
On the downside, taxes are high, both income and property taxes, compared to almost anywhere else in the country. Roads are rough on cars, and any spot of rust means your car can't pass inspection (ie. you must drive a car thats no more than 4ish years old) and heat/electric/etc are expensive. When you add it all up, relative cost of living is higher than California by far, which is saying a lot...California is an expensive place to live. Lots of the costs are hidden, and you won't really learn about them until you're here a year or two, and I've only mentioned a few.
Beyond that, there's a demographic challenge the state will have to recon with soon...as most people that live here are over 60, and around 10% of the working age population is on disability. Unemployment is always very low, which is nice if you're seeking a job, but horrible if your plumbing breaks and you need to wait 8+ weeks for anyone to look at it. Same goes for your roof, electrical, etc.
Healthcare has wait lists of 3 months to 3 years for even basic things, so you'll be in high demand if you're an MD.
All in all, it is a stunning place to enjoy, but a tough place to live if you unless you are in fact living in a cabin far from the grid and are completely self sufficient. If you need anything from anyone in terms of goods or services, it can be tricky.
Thank you so much for this detailed reply! Very interesting. I'm not an MD, but rather live in MD (Maryland). Should have written it out initially :) I guess the grass is always greener in some ways, but all about what individual priorities are in a particular location. Thank you again!!
Ha, oops! I miss read that. Many parts of Maryland are quite beautiful too, and at least the rural parts I've seen are not all that different than the more developed parts of Vermont. The grass is always greener, you're right. It's tricky, and it really depends on what you're looking for.
Oh so relatable. Given that "here" is truly where we are, you might as well live fully and enjoy the hard earned fruits of your labors and stewardship. Your kids will also learn that aspiring doesn't mean sacrificing "NOW" which was a lesson I learned later in life. I have a friend who took a 9 month lease on an apartment many hears ago. She painted and decorated as though it was for forever. I thought she was nuts. She said, I deserve to be happy and feel at peace when I come home. Indeed! I'm very happy for you and your family.
"I deserve to be happy and feel at peace when I come home." That's the perfect way to put it!
Good Afternoon Ashley, we were thinking the about moving also. But decided not too also. We are seniors and things are getting harder for us to keep up with. We've decided to stay put, at least for now. Never know what the future holds. May God Bless you in all your adventures in life.
Thank you Robin, and best of luck to you in your adventures too!
Oh Ashley, this was like balm to my soul. We’re renters, looking for our forever land, with no savings or way to purchase it. I assume we’ll be renting for the next little while until some strange and wonderful situation comes our way. While renting, I’ve never set up as if this was a forever home. There is so much mobile furniture and no blinds but blankets, and no garden. If we don’t move before March, we’ve decided to screw it and plant here. This is the last year without a garden. I’ve done what I can with a 2-year old to forage and wild harvest but it is not enough to have a meal. Thanks for your open share. I’m right along with you.
It's a tough place to be, but there are a lot of people there, especially in this economy. We really hope to move next year...but no matter what I'm planting a big garden next year. Maybe I'll have to leave it, but so it goes. If we're leaving, it's because we've found the perfect place, and if not, we'll have a beautiful garden. It's a win either way.
I hope you find your perfect place, through some strange and wonderful situation that comes your way as you say, but if not, I bet you're going to have an epic garden come next March. Enjoy it!
Thank you!
This article had a real sense of romanticism, poetic. Something that most all could relate to I think. Could be the beginning of a beautiful book. Thank you
Thank you so much!