Anyone else just up and "QUIT" & move to the country?

[simi-steading]

Just wondering if anyone here has found some land and a home, then up and quit their jobs to move to the country without any prospects of new jobs?

As we get closer and closer to the time we plan to quit our jobs and move to WV, it's starting to get a little scary in ways..

Our bills will be cheap, and we have money that will last for a while to look for jobs, but then again,when you're not employed, it can make it harder to get employed.

My wife is going to take the state test to apply for any state jobs she could do... Me personally, I got no clue. She would like for me to stay around the place and take care of it and make cash where I can. All I know is I will do anything and everything possible not to end up in the corporate world again... I said up until 14 years ago I'd never do it, but I ended up there anyway

Seems to me in WV, that's not the easiest thing to do... but many do...

Just wondering if anyone else has gotten so tired of things in the city they just left... up and quit and left...

If so, how did things go for you? How did you approach finding jobs? how did you deal with getting moved? how has things turned out for you?

[thestartupman]

We did just that 2 years ago. We moved from WA, too MO. Left our jobs of 24 years, and 15 years. I have been working off our farm for now, and the wife has taken a job in town. We love it, but are still trying to get our financial state stable. I am trying to find ways to make a little more profit from the farm. We also keep a monthly budget to track where all our money is being spent. We try to see if we can reduce cost as much as possible. There is a lot of beginning cost to starting a new place, but those type of cost are reducing quite a bit now. Good luck to you.

[paulty_logic]

Been very close to pulling the trigger on that a number of times, but in the end, reason and caution have won out. I am currently in the corporate world, and biding my time to make my escape. Hopefully it will be a control retreat and not just a chaotic rout.

Do you already have property in WV? If not it seems to me, that would be the biggest issue. Finding the right place can take some time. As for the jobs, as long as you don't have a huge mortgage/car payments/other consistent expenditures hanging over your head, you can get into any number of cottage industries. Even if you have to take a low paying job locally, it's still better than dealing with the corporate environment(IMHO).

[Mulegirl]

Do you have any skills that would let you land a remote, online job, Simi? My husband and I are lucky in that we teach online at a reputable for-profit university; that means that we can live anywhere we want, and basically will have as much time for the farm as we can make (which gets tricky if our courseloads are heavy, but that's not consistent). Looking for a line of online work is one very good avenue so long as your place in WV has reliable internet access.

[simi-steading]

Yes, we already have the place, and have been working on it for the last year making repairs to the house and the out buildings. We had to do that to make the place livable, plus we are stuck in a lease until July this year, so we figured it was time to get it done now while we're making the money.

Our bills will be low.. the mortgage is just a tad more than I pay for parking a month here in DC.. CHEAP.. we have an electric bill and phone at the farm is all we'll have... then of course the insurance and such for the cars.

For now we're going to drop our health insurance, and that's why my wife is wanting to try and get a job with the state, to get the insurance for both of us..

Internet is going to be an issue for jobs.. We will have to have satellite, but the real problem with that is, ,we're at the bottom of a holler and we can't get a clear shot at the sky.. I' going to have to get a real tall mast put up to even think about maybe getting a clear shot.

I'd love to get a job at Lowe's.. we spend a fortune there for materials. .I sure could use that employee discount.. LOL..

[Maura]

Depending on what you did in corporate, you might look into municipal or county government. Yes, there's politics, but you will recognize it and should be able to work around it.

[simi-steading]

In no way do I want anything to do with the local government in that area.. Darren can tell you that's the last place you want to be involved in that area..

Part of the reason we're moving away is to get away from government, so that's why I have a hard tome believing my wife wants to get a job with the state... BUT, we could use their bennies..


I'm in IT now, and tired of it... I want out of IT.. I want to go back to working with my hands.. I really do miss hard work. Driving a desk is killing me quickly..

[farmmaid]

Is there just the two of you? If so, much easier. You will be surprised at how much less you need.
Suggestion: After you move in, have a summer " get to know your neighbor" Bar-B-Q, everyone bring a dish to pass.....hand deliver the invitations. Ask lots of questions, who barters what, what skills you have to offer, where to get the best deals on things, phone numbers in case of emergencies.

Start selling all you will not need. Take that $ and start NOW buying things as they come on SALE that you will need: wheelbarrow, tools etc.
Look for garage sales and put "WANTED" ads in your pennysavers for things you are looking for. I needed a pony saddle years ago, four people answered my ad and I bought all four saddles. Kept the one I wanted, cleaned and fixed the others up and resold them...mine was free and made a nice profit!

Every few dollars adds up. Sometimes a good find leads to another goodie you see in the sellers backyard. I have been known to knock on doors if I see something I need and it looks like it has not been used in a long time!!!!! If you keep really good records, you will see that you can save hundreds/thousands.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Darren]

In many places in WV as far as city, county and some state jobs, you won't get a job unless you're connected. I know many conservatives that wouldn't think of registering as anything other than Democrat. Minimum wage jobs can always be had. Once you figure in the commuting costs, and the wear and tear, it's a tough go.

Internet access is a big issue in many rural areas of WV. It's a hodge podge. I've worked in a remote area and had great DSL. Closer to a "big" city and you're stuck with dial up. Simi will be doing good just to get reliable phone service where his place is located.

If you're in the medical field, have a CDL or heavy equipment experience you can get a job.

[simi-steading]

LOL.. we've already had enough problems with the phone.. Seems like keeping it and the electric on is a part time job.. I'm planning on getting a nice hot CB base.. that way at least someone might hear us if we need something and are stuck... I know Travis has his on a lot..

We've been selling stuff, and we've been buying things we didn't have and would need... We're doing pretty good.. tractor and attachments, all the needed digging and weeding and mowing tools.. all the tools for working on the house..

What we're really short on are materials.. such as drywall and hardwood flooring and such. We plan to do those things over time though.

We've already met pretty much all the neighbors, and most everyone that works at the firehouse, along with some other business people int he area. All have been so wonderful and very welcoming... We've made some real good friends with the fire chief's daughter and son-inl-law.. They've been keeping an eye on our place, plus they are letting us know things we need to know, like where to buy things, who to talk to about services and such..

Darren has also been a huge help.. He's given me a lot of info, plus he knows a lot about how the county out there works and who is who and has clued me in on a lot. I'm sure some of that will come in handy when looking for a job if I head towards the county seat for one..

I do know a couple people in oil out there, and a couple have said if I'm interested they could help if anything comes open, but I'm getting older, and not sure if I got it in me any more to go back to the oil fields.. I used to weld up drill pipe racks when I was in Texas, but I don't think I could even do that any more.. It wasn't as heavy as working on a rig, but it still beat me up..

[Roadking]

You can do it simi...we did; ups and sold our companies and moved, no jobs planned...wife likes plants and the local grower has begged her to work for him. Maybe when the kiddos are both in middle or high school.
Me? I had built up three businesses to the point that they became one of our biggest investments. Sold them, our old farm house and vacation home and bought this place. Built a 25x27 shop that I am currently insulating, and turned my hobby into side line cash/part time job...restoring cars. Find a need, fill a need. But I do it in an unstressful way; 1. Get car, title and keys to me. I will pick up for a fee. 2. I require X$ deposit and will let you know when more is required. 3. I can not/will not give a completion date window. You want it in 2 months? Go elsewhere. 4. I'll call you when it's done.
Sounds harsh, but it keeps it from becoming a "job", and I have a waiting list, so I guess it works.
Good luck.

Matt

[simi-steading]

I didn't realize you had done this too Matt.. Interesting. I thought I was one of the few that was pretty much crazy enough to think I could do this.. LOL..

I forgot to farmmaid, yes, it's just me and my wife. We're both used to getting by with what we have. Until we moved to DC, neither one of us was used to have much of anything extra. I'm sure it will be kind of hard to get out of the spend when we want mentality after getting used to it.. we kinda went hog wild once we could.. DOH...

Mention has been made to me that a they could use a small engine shop in the area when I mentioned I used to be a small engine mechanic.. I guess I could see about doing some side work and see if it would even look viable.. I know out there a lot of people can fix their own stuff, but as I was told, they have jobs to work and not so much time to fix things.. However, I'm afraid they wouldn't want to pay much either...

I guess I'm just kinda picking ya'll brains to hear what others have done, and how things worked out for others... We won't be moving out there with much money. Enough to get by for a few months, and if need be, we do have some other cash stashed but we'd rather not get into that money, but I'd say we could probably gt by for a year if we really had to buckle down and do it living real thin...

So, for that reason., I don't see me being able to put any front money down for a business. It would have to be something that got built up real slow..

[Win07_351]

Originally Posted by Maura

Depending on what you did in corporate, you might look into municipal or county government. Yes, there's politics, but you will recognize it and should be able to work around it.

This is probably what he wants to get away from.

[Wolf mom]

Eleven years ago, when I realized that I was paying half a house payment to board my horse and donkey, I found and bought 5 very rural acres that I could afford. Because I am sole support, I felt I could not up & leave as I had a commitment of a hefty mortgage where I was livng.
Being rural there were not a lot of jobs that paid enough and that I was qualified for. Consequently, to make a long story shorter, I stayed where I was, going to my land & living in a park model trailer, on weekends.

And I subscribed to the rural bi-weekly newspaper. I decided if I could not get a job within one year, I would go back to school & get a 2 year nursing degree as that was one job that was frequently in the paper.

After about 6 months I did get a job. Then the house with the hefty mortgage sold. Here I am and now, at 70 with no more farm animals, I'm thinking about moving on to be nearer family.

I guess my tag line says it all....

[simi-steading]

Interesting story Wolf Mom.... We would like to try and find something out there before moving, but since we're doing our own moving, and have a big house to get cleaned before turning back to the landlord, we'll need a couple months to gt everything moved and cleaned.. .

We'll be making at least 5 trips back and forth with the trailer hauling all out stuff... It's a 5 hour trip one way.. Plus we've go no one to help us load and unload, so it's going to be real slow going..

My wife has had a neighbor and the well owner on our land tell us that he could probably help her get a job with an attorney out there.. He's got a few business and has a couple attorneys that do work for him, so that would be nice if that would pan out. That's mostly what she's done is a legal secretary and/or assistant..

We are a little apprehensive about our ages though.. .I'm about to be 50, and I ain't telling how old she is, but I like older women, and she's not getting any younger either.. I know that does make it a little harder to find some jobs, but then again, at times, it helps being older...

WHat I do worry about is how long will we be able to cut wood, take care of the garden, deal with animals and such?

The people we bought the place from were late 70's or right at 80... She still kept going, but he was not able to do much of anything.. I just hope my health improves once we get out there.. I don't have any problems, but I've gotten soft and lazy with all this desk driving and lack of real work..

[Darren]

There's at least three maybe four small engines shops that shut down in that county. There were always a bunch of riding mowers, etc around the places. One was located on main street. I always wondered if once folks learned how much it cost to fix them, they just walked off and left them.

There was a guy who had the bucks to move in, buy acreage and relocate his restoration business. He decided the income level and population wouldn't support it. He briefly, very briefly, considered the facilities of two new car dealers in the area that had closed. The only thing going is the oil patch. Even there some of the big players like Halliburton have moved out.

There is talk of a cracker being built near Parkersburg to covert ethane to polyethylene. Lots of folks drooling over that. That's being studied by a Brazilian conglomerate named Odebrecht. Shell abandoned a similar project in PA. Just goes to show you can't hold your breath.

[simi-steading]

Yeah.. I knew a couple shops had closed down.. and I'm sure it's just because of what you said.. people just don't have the money, or don't want to pay what it costs to fix things... They tend to forget that the labor price is to cover overhead like the building and insurance.... That's why I'm not really getting a warm fuzzy about starting a shop either..


It only takes a drive around the area to see there's not a whole lot of money out there.. I mean, yes, there is, especially for people in oil, but they also don't spend very big either... The couple people I know out there that make good money don't seem to spend much of it.. I guess when you're used to living modest, even once you make some money, you're still used to making do with what you have and not spending for what you don't need. People from the Appalachians are a different breed for sure..

[lindamarie]

Dh, me and the last 2 of 5 kids walked away from everything 14 years ago to live way back in the woods in WV. There is only the 2 of us, well supposed to be, but we now have 3 of our dgds.
When we got here there was a small cabin and a spring house and root cellar, 2 / 55 watt panels. There are no utilities that run to our place. We get cell phone service and internet thru Verizon with a hot spot WiFi box and a smart phone.

I grew up in cities and spent time in army and then worked as a nurse. I can honestly say that walking away from everything was the best thing we ever did.scary yes, hard work yes. We get by on dh social security and I could always sell eggs and do farmers market and my quilts. Found out that all the hours spent working, clothes, uniforms, travel expenses etc was not worth it. There's really nothing I miss. Heck haven't had a refrigerator or washer for 14 years.

Btw....where in WV are you going.

..........linda

[WV Farm girl]

I'm ready to. Fed up with it all here in this little OH city. I've got a little house on my Dad's farm in WV. (Upshur Co). Fixing it up as I go. New windows and paint inside and out are on the agenda this year. Chicken coop built and a start of an orchard. My Dad and I are partners on a small Dorper flock and I will be rebuilding my goat herd.
I got a 5yr plan. Socking money away and paying off debt. Can't wait! My hubby is much older than me (18yrs). My plan is his SS, with saved money, little farm income and I can semi-retire with a PT job.
Scary? Nope. Another chapter in my life's book. May God Bless all of us in our pursuits!

[Vosey]

Simi-steading, I hope you can get internet so you can keep in touch with us all and we can share in your adventure! I've enjoyed seeing your pictures and I have no doubt that this is the right leap for you and your wife.

I can't give you any big tips as I was able to move my work with our move back to the country. Still took a big risk as my work is dependent on grant money and our current grant is up at the end of this year. And we couldn't sell our house in town which is a financial albatross. If it doesn't come through I'm looking at having to find new work and an hour commute. And that will be when I go to part time work. But it is all worth the risk!

If your wife is happy to work then I agree with her that you should stay on the homestead, there will be a lot to do the first few years! It's really hard to do it with both people working. There is no work out here for DH and I love that he is home taking care of everything and everyone.