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A Farm of My Own:  longing for a change  |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 3:31:30 PM
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Hi Girls,
..just realized that i put this topic in the wrong forum!
my husband and i currently rent. We live on long island, NY- not a very affordable place to live. I have been looking at farmhouses to buy off long island. I can't believe that for a fraction of what you'd pay here- you can get a bigger house with A LOT of land! The problem? my husband has over 10 years to put into his job or he will lose his pension :(
My kids are already 22 & 16- I am 41 and my husband 44. By the time 'we can leave' i feel we may be 'too old' to buy a home. I want to live a simpler life, live off the land more, be more self sufficient, and have more 'ruralness' around me.' I dont want to stay here and struggle. It depresses me.
Do you think when we are in our 50's it will be practical to make this move? I need hope.
Connie
www.NatureMaiden.com -Handcrafted Bath & Body Products that I make myself- including soaps, salves, lotion bars, lip balms, natural deodorants, body sprays, hydrosols, salt scrubs, and MUCH more!
http://naturemaidenbathbodyproduct.blogspot.com/(Business Blog)
http://flowerchild-lifeinthegarden.blogspot.com/(Personal blog)
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Mountain Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
806 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
Washington
USA
806 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 3:59:22 PM
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| Connie, Take it from someone who moved from Minnesota to Northeastern Wa at the age of 58 (husband 59) that it can be done! It was a grand adventure! We have been having a wonderful time. My husband still backpacks at the age of 65, still goes on long hikes everyday. We both go camping and to our recreational cabin almost every week. You will not be too old!! What you need is patience and bloom where you are planted for now. JoAnn |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 6:51:38 PM
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Is your husband's job with a company that has other locations? Would a transfer be possible without losing his pension?
With your location there may not be a possibility of a commute that would let you live in the kind of place you want.
Though we had lived here for a long time we are both very active in gardening and crafts now that we are retired. DH retired 5 years ago at 58 and I retired 3 years ago at 57. Though we are healthy we don't have quite the energy we had 10 years ago but we have the time to get things done at our own pace rather than trying to cram them in around a job. We have a huge garden, an orchard of dwarf fruit trees that have mostly been planted in the last few years and a vineyard started this year.
Living off the land sounds great but its a lot easier with a pension coming in! Having the time to plan ahead helps in making decisions. You can learn so much that will be of value. You can travel on weekends or vacations and check out areas you might be interested in. Remember a simpler life doesn't depend on geography but your mind set. MJF is a great place to learn from your friends here.
Best wishes and keep the dream!
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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NVSunshineGirl
Farmgirl at Heart
6 Posts
Susan
Reno
NV
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 7:49:22 PM
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| There is always hope. I would love for you to be able to follow your dream. Please have hope. I don't think it would be to old to relocate in your 50's gosh you only live one life. |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 8:05:27 PM
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Hi Connie --
Yes, I believe you can do it whenever...age is just a number. I'll be 40 next month and DH is 42 and we are looking to embark on a similar adventure. It can be done, it can be done, I believe it. :-D
Melissa
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4814 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4814 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 08:37:56 AM
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You are never too old to change! Your dream may change a bit by then, but change is always fun & good.
Don't hold off on your dream, make do with where you are. You can grow your veggies/herbs/fruits in containers if yard space is a problem. Investigate what will work where you are now & start a dream book for your future farm!
Dawn in IL |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 2:39:36 PM
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I sure hope you can make that move when you're in your 50's since my DH and I are looking for land and we're 55 and 57! Moving from suburbia. I know what you mean though, I wonder sometimes if we're just being a bit optimistic. Oh well, one last hurray before we move to the retirement home LOL!
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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pamcook
True Blue Farmgirl
228 Posts
Pam
Chapel Hill
NC
USA
228 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 09:51:26 AM
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DH and I are in our early 50's and we dream about being self-sufficient. Our whole lives (since our teens anyway) we've worked for someone else and only recently realized what a mistake we've made. Just when we thought our house & property would sell to a developer, the economy collapsed. So here we are, living in a city that's too big, commuting in too much traffic and praying that our pensions are there when we retire so we can live the life we want to live. Sad, huh? He dreams of walking away from it and starting over - not realistic at all. Thank goodness our children have learned from our mishaps. In the meantime, we'll make do with what we have, where we are. If it "all falls apart" at least we know we can survive!
www.ikat.org
www.longaberger.com/pamcook |
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countrygirl10
True Blue Farmgirl
50 Posts
Ellen
Lower Lake
CA
USA
50 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2010 : 4:26:35 PM
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Hey Connie -
Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus!
My husband (who died in 2003)& I wanted to become selfsufficient and lead simpler lives so we started looking for a place in 1985 in the location we wanted to retire. We finally found it in 1987 and worked toward developing it while we were still working. It was just a piece of land and a dream. We worked on developing it and going there on weekends and vacations.
In 1998 at 50 years old, we retired and built our home and moved here permanently. I believe that moving here was what kept my husband sane while his body got weaker. He had started woodcarving while he was healthy and toward the end this was all he could do.
If you really want to do this start planning for it now. You can also start learning things that you would like to do when you move.
Good luck and I hope you are as happy with your decision as we were.
Ellen
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2010 : 07:15:53 AM
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I am 54 and my husband 57, I want to move so badly. We were doing really well, girls away from home and he had a great job where it didn't matter where we lived. Then the economy tanked and he lost his job. So we are still sitting in suburbia because we can't move at this time. Still dreaming and knowing one day it will happen. You are never to old. My Mom wanted to build her own home all her life. After two failed marriages raising her kids and some of her grandkids at 60 she met a really great guy that had lost his wife. They married and she build a wonderful house that she loves and they are happy happy. She struggled all her life and now she has her dream. It is never to late.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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ilene
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
ilene
westminster
colorado
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2010 : 10:28:38 PM
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It's never too late to make a change, to follow your dreams and to follow your heart.
Three years ago I bought a small farm in eastern Colorado. My ex and my son have been living there. It's been wonderful. We've taken truck loads of produce to various food banks in Denver. My ex died suddenly of a heart attack in February so my son (he's 46) is living by himself on the farm. We need a farmgirl. Anyone interested? Please contact me. My regular e-mail address is: ilenewls@aol.com
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
Helen Keller |
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MamaCrunch
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Nasvhille
TN
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2010 : 5:19:57 PM
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I grew up on a tiny hobby farm but my parents just fed the animals everyday since my sister and I had no interest in living the farm life. About 6 years ago my parents were transferred to Wisconsin and again bought a small farm. This time around they are empty nesters (mom is also retired) and are loving everyday on their small 4 acre farm (plus they help out on a friends farm nearby.)
I fully believe it's never to late to start. My husband and I'll probably be retirement age before we can have the farm we now dream of.
Just tryin' to homestead in the middle of a suburban neighborhood!
Blog~ http://thelittleboygreen.com <<I've been slackin' on the updates! |
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highlandviewpantry
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
WV
USA
214 Posts |
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Ann2144
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2010 : 5:43:56 PM
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My husband is 53, me 51. I think we would do better with a "farm" if we had a couple of other "couples" who also wanted to live that life to share the chores and the fun of having a farm. In our 50's we really don't have all the energy that we did in our younger years but would love to live the lifestyle. Everyone has talents and can bring different things to the mix. I encourage you to find others who want to do what you want to, and do it together! (like this list but in PERSON! LOL!) I guess I might be part "old hippie", my husband can retire with his pension in 3 years, so we are hoping to find some other "old hippies" by then too!
Love Each Other |
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Nanniekim
True Blue Farmgirl
206 Posts
Kim
Arizona
206 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 05:45:25 AM
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You are as old as you feel! My husband and I are in our early 50's and live on just an acre. There is still plenty to do with fruit trees, vegetable gardens, grass and flowers. We are planning on chickens again, hopefully soon. You can do anything you set your mind to do. I agree with the others who say now is the time to plan. You have plenty of time to decide where you really want to be. Visit your dream area in all seasons to make sure that is what you want. Enjoy where you are now even if it is less than ideal. Time goes by so fast that your retirement will be here before you know it and it would be a shame to miss the good things in your life now. Just work on staying healthy so your dream can become your reality.
Kim |
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countrygirl10
True Blue Farmgirl
50 Posts
Ellen
Lower Lake
CA
USA
50 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 08:44:58 AM
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| Said beautifully, Kim! |
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Cherime
True Blue Farmgirl
1222 Posts
Cherime
Wasilla
Alaska
USA
1222 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 09:53:47 AM
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Just keep that dream upper most in your heart and mind. I just helped my son in law and DD move into a new house. I will be 67 in a few weeks and surprised one of his helpers that I can work as long and hard as a 50 year old. Just keep the old bod moving. Remember things at rest want to stay at rest. The more you move the more you will be able to move.
CMF |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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DyaLynn53
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Dianne
Roseburg
Oregon
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 2:06:55 PM
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I'm 57, my husband is 56; we have been blessed to live in the country since our first baby was about 2 but all we could afford to live in was first a tiny trailer, then we graduated up to an old double wide, from there we moved up into a series or sad, drafty, dark old shacks. All my life I dreamed of having my own brand spanking new house. I held onto that dream, wrote that dream in every journal I kept, drew my own floor plans, imagined myself inside that house, I walked through every room. I did this for 30+ years, never gave up on that dream and over the last 2 years built that house, the very floor plan I drew up myself all those years ago with a few changes that my DH suggested. We are now in the process of moving in. I dreamed it and helped my husband build it so I can tell you truthfully that dreams really CAN become reality. Cherime is right, if ya stay active anything is possible. BTW Cherime, I love Alaska, shoot, I'd move to some remote spot along the inside passage and build this house all over again in a heartbeat if I had to, but for now I think I'll finish decorating this one. I'm as happy as cat in a room full of mice. Remember y'all, Grandma Moses didn't start painting until she was in her 80's. Never give up on any dream!
Farmgirl Sister #682
"Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye |
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A Farm of My Own: longing for a change |
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longing for a change
