| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| emtfarmer |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 4:47:33 PM
I've read past entries where some of you have downsized, but have any of you ever just started over from scratch? ("from scratch" isn't just a southern term, is it? ) Or ever just thought about starting from scratch?
I don't know if it is just the situation my husband and I are in right now (unemployed) but I thought today of just selling everything we own and moving on. By everything, that is pretty much what I mean. I would keep my mom's sewing machine (my great-grandmother gave it to her), our sort-of antinque white iron bed, the cats (we have four and they are the only children we have ever had), and pictures of family.
We currently rent, so there is no house to sell. We do own land but there is an easement issue with it--we would have to pay money we don't have to have access to it. (The land is where my husband grew up so the "handshake with the neighbor" worked in the past. Also, my father-in-law died on the property and my husband just can't bring himself to live there.) There is no liveable structure on site anyway.
Is it just dreaming to want to sell (most) everything, pay off all bills, buy that small, small farm and live like The Waltons? I kinda took my husband by surprise when we talked about it but I think he liked the idea and said he would give it some thought.
Don't you just hate it when I get philosophical??
Thanks for your ideas (and maybe even encouragement?)
Hugs to all,
Darlene
"Support your local fire departments and rescue squads...volunteers making a difference" |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Jul 19 2011 : 06:22:15 AM
Diane
If it was not that I just can not do all the work required here I would stay until I drew my last breathe...
I have a perfect view from my front deck of Pike Peak on 35 acres. I have a forest of majestic pines on my west side of the property and pastures gracing the rest of the land. I placed six fenced pastures that have connecting gates to move animals without much work. I have one huge barn one smaller barn and three large loafing sheds. Each barn has electricity and water. I then also have a large separate fenced in area with huge loafing shed which was used for new animals or breeding my large llamas and alpacas. I also placed just outside the forest a camping area for when traveling guest stay or when I hosted large open houses. I also have a tool shed which was first a chicken coop but I had a huge shed built here for my chickens. The chicken coop also has electricty and water. We have been organic from the moment I started. There has not been one chemical allowed on the ground, the feed, the animals and I also have an agreement with the county not to spray outside my property. I have pulled or dug any plants that would be toxic to my animals and maintained a healthy stock without the illness that others seem to struggle with. No person is allowed beyond the fenceline with protective gear and most time I do not even allow that.
As for my home - well as you might have heard I am getting a new roof thanks to a freak Micro Burst. We are replacing also the front and kitchen door and three windows. It is a log home but with a different twist. There is a basement, then the ground level which was the garage but I put in two sets of large french doors and have turned it into my fiber arts shop. Also on that level there is the laundry room and my fiber production room - was a office also at one time. Then the next level is the kitchen/diningroom and the living room with fireplace. Next is the upstairs with three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The master bedroom has two huge walk in closets and the bathroom has a shower, sink and toilet. The other bathroom is much larger with a tub/shower, sky light, sink and toilet.
There is a front deck and back deck to enjoy your views and the still country nights.
Most folks find this place not only restful but magical. It has been more then a joy to be here and if only I had four more sets of hands I would be here forever. Hope that gives you a taste of life here at Larkpsur Funny Farm.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Jul 19 2011 : 05:58:59 AM
Oh Darlene
I am so very sorry about your sweet one - I know that the loss is great and how it takes your every thought. I send you love and light. The information has given us all some great information... Lot's of food for thought and prayer.
This journey is not taken alone - there are many who are walking the path. Change is never easy and sometimes not welcome but it is part of being here on earth. I know change has not been my friend in past but I am trying to befriend it and know that with it new adventures await me....
I hope you share with the group your journey and I will do the same.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| emtfarmer |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 5:24:13 PM
Thank you all for your responses. Yes, I really do need to reflect to make sure I'm not running from something. Honestly, I don't think I am--I just want a simple, uncluttered, debt-free life, so maybe I'm running TO something?
Hubby is trying to grasp my concept; it may take a day or two (or three or four or. . . .).
But one more bump in our road today; we have a sick cat and the vet told us today we may have to put her to sleep. We love our 'baby' (one of four) so she is consuming our thoughts at the moment.
Thank you again for your comments. It gives me a lot to think about. I look forward to reading more!
God bless,
Darlene
"Support your local fire departments and rescue squads...volunteers making a difference" |
| LouisvilleMom |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 3:10:22 PM
We have dear friends who are doing that. They are selling the "big house" and most everything they own. They bought a complete dump of a house and are renovating it. It is only 800 feet but there are only two of them. They paid $8k cash for it and bought all the land around it. They will be under $30k for the entire thing but since they gutted it to the rafters and literally tore off the roof, it will be brand new and debt free. They are darn near giddy at the prospect of booting the mortgage for good!
SAHM mom to four great boys.
http://ksfarnsworth.blogspot.com/ |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 2:22:59 PM
Unlike my mother, I've never much been one for "stuff". When she moved out of her parents home it was on bad terms and she was only allowed a few bags of her things (they wouldn't even let her take the suitcase.) Since then every cross country move for me as a kid was frustrating for the sheer amount of things. When I moved from Oregon to Arizona I fit everything I had in a pickup truck and a 2 horse trailer, and I only brought that much because I had no money and didn't think I could replace things like mattresses and washer/dryer etc. My next move I am only going to take irreplaceables like keepsakes and clothing I am attached to, and bare bones house stuff. My goal is to take NO furniture, just boxes and bags.
I'm going to first try to sell my big things through craigslist, then an "estate sale" (estate sale adds imply more collectibles and all encompassing house wares to sale customers, while moving sales seem to imply furniture and 'junk' you want want to take.)
For sale success I would recommend placing adds (craigslist and newspaper) once in the middle of the week (wed or thurs) before the actual sale, and once to appear Saturday morning. List a contact phone number so people can call for directions, and include all the big ticket items you will have for sale (horse tack, appliances, tools, furniture, antiques, fencing etc.)
If you are so rural that you dont think you could draw any salers, you can look up a swap meet or community rummage sale and take your yard sale to it. Tables or spaces typically cost a flat amount that you pay up front. There tends to be a lot of foot traffic at those things.
Leading up to the big "dump" you can high grade specialty items to sell on etsy and (I sell clothing lots and electronics on ebay. Those are both things people go to ebay specifically to look for.) If you have rare books that go for 25-50$ on amazon used, there's no sense in putting it on a yard sale table and be offered fifty cents.
That's another thing about sales, customers have a set expectation of prices should be and they don't care how much it's worth, or how much it costs you (it can hurt your feelings if you try to make and sell handicrafts in this manner.)
When you're ready to go and still have too much stuff, donate it to a charity shop (goodwill, St. Vincent De Paul, etc.) and they will write you a tax deduction receipt for the estimated cash value of your donations. Anything they wont take, or you dont feel is appropriate to donate post in a craigslist "free" add or freecycle. Gifts like that are always appreciated.
In other words, If you like, DO IT! And never look back ;D
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| Tall Holly |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 09:45:16 AM
I know a family that had a huge yard sale to get rid of their stuff. this was several years ago before craig's list. They were moving from Vermont to North Carolina and decided it was easier to sell everything an move in a small Uhaul than to hire a moving company to do it for them. I have not heard that they regretted it.
Good Luck. things are things and mostly replaceable. I guess if there were something with sentimental value you could take a picture and write a story about it. I know that then you can not hold it but, think if you had a house fire what would be left?
Holly
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| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 08:39:04 AM
Grace,
You need to tell me a little about your farm. My DH and I are interested in buying one in the next year.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
I ask not for a larger garden, but for finer seeds.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| thehatlady |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 07:16:27 AM
I started over 11 years ago and have never been sorry. I pulled my travel trailer down to S.E. Mo to visit friends. I took a kitten into my trailer, talked to my daughter(we lived together at the time in my house) and told her about my kitty, she said 'we have one cat we don't need any more' told her O.K. I'll move and I did. My friends moved the pasture fence back I got a mobile home, had it pulled in, got the water and septic lines dug and moved in. I later signed my house over to my daughter,I am really happy where I am and have a lot of good friends. I did not take anything from my house, and furnished my trailer with flea market items. My daughter did later bring me my china cabinet, cedar chest, dresser and a few other things. We do visit everyday via phone and I go see them as often as I can. And they come down here when they can.
Here I have a garden,my dogs, lots of cats, and I throw bread to the neighbors horses and chickens. He tells me I have everything on the place spoiled.LOL We all work together and share.
It's not always easy, but it can be done. One step at a time.
Have a good day,
Lola
Every day, in every way, I become better and better. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 9:41:20 PM
I don't think starting over from scratch would necessarily be a bad thing. You could keep only that which would help you in your new life and leave the rest behind. Most of us have WAY more than we need and we work our lives around our possessions. I am becoming more and more devout to the idea that our possessions should work for us not the other way around. I am tired of losing all my Sundays to cleaning stuff that I don't really care about!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| FarmDream |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 7:45:37 PM
Hi Darlene,
DH and I talk of doing this also. We get weekly emails from a realtor with all the listings in the categories we're interested in. We decided we need to get our bills paid off first before dropping everything and following our dream. I would caution you to make sure you are following a dream and not just running away from all the stresses of life, because you're talking about giving up the roof over your head. It's sounds romantic and adventurous, until the first rain storm. My DH spent 3 months homeless in the mountains once and had to fight off coyotes and a mountain lion. Just make sure you have some necessary things in place before moving on.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| emtfarmer |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 7:43:13 PM
Grace, I've read some of your previous posts before and can tell you are ready for a change, too. And change is not bad.; it just seems that maybe there is something we've supposed to have seen or done and just haven't yet??
I can't say that I'm really happy, but I'm not unhappy either. There is a lot I am grateful for but I just feel a need to connect with the land, live simply, uncomplicate life. It is not possible to live without problems, I realize that, but doesn't the more "stuff" we have just multiply stress?
You ask how I would sell everything---I plan on looking in to that. There is a wonderful consignment shop in a town we used to live near that we take things to occassionally but it is a two hour drive from here. There is a new "antiques and collectibles" store that just opened yesterday as a matter of fact, that I think a person just sets up a booth; not sure what rent costs are. I may check into it tomorrow. Sell on Etsy maybe? When you stop and think about it, there really is a LOT of stuff to sell. I'm talking about even selling pots and pans and dishes. The land issue--we have a lawyer researching neighboring property owners to check on the easement issue and see if anyone wants to buy (pray that someone does!!!)
I love the idea of a yurt, too, or something similar. (Take a look at laurelnestyurts.com). A small dome home? Definitely something energy efficient and off grid if possible.
I figure if we're ever going to do something radical, now is the time to do it. I'm just leaving it in God's hands. I just pray for guidance and wisdom to know His will.
Can I be of help to you in any way, Grace?
Hugs,
Darlene
"Support your local fire departments and rescue squads...volunteers making a difference" |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 5:21:36 PM
Your not alone - this has been going thru my brain now for almost a year. I am thinking to just go very simple - I would love a Yurt in the mountains,alone bringing the items that I really use and need. I feel like I am surrounded with stuff that no longers means anything to me. I also would love to focus more on my art and not on all the farm and animal work...
So tell me how you think you might sell everything?? That has been a big one for me - not to mention I have never sold a farm - sold homes but not a farm. I can not wait to hear your thoughts and others...
I am also thinking of maybe changing countries - life is to short to be where you feel is not home anymore...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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