Best Decisions I've made along the way...

ArmyDoc · #1 12/17/14, 07:15 AM

There's another thread on "if I knew then..." which is about mistakes we've made. Equally important is considering what we've done right. What were some of the best decisions you've made in life?

Deciding to give my life to Christ. If I hadn't there would be a lot fewerer decisions I'm greatful for, and a lot more I regret.

Marrying a godly woman who is strong enough to tell me when Im wrong and gentle enough to let me know without insulting me or making me feel bad about myself; who is loving enough to encourage me, support me and willing to partner with me to work towards our goals.

Getting out of debt early, starting to save early, investing early, and being patient for a long time so as to not undo the effects of the first three.

Picking a career that supports my dreams without taking so much time as to prevent my enjoying them (though the ballance can be precarious...)

Sticking with the very long process of education and training necessary to attain and maintain that career.

Being bold enough to invest in land when the economy tanked, even though it would have been less stressful to have played it safe and waited for the economy to improve.

Laura Zone 10 · #2 12/17/14, 07:28 AM

Great decisions?

1. Not ignoring the Spirit when He led me to Christ.

2. The birth of my 3 kids.

3. Stop the abuse cycle in my marriage, (now divorced) and heal.

Kmac15 · #3 12/17/14, 07:46 AM

planting blueberry bushes... The first 4 now produce several gallons each and the younger ones are catching up fast.
Letting DH make the chicken coup as large as he wanted, Those dozen chicks sure grew.

Jokarva · #4 12/17/14, 08:35 AM

Marrying, and staying married to (even though he can pluck my last nerve at times) a man with compatible values and goals. One who appreciates his good health and works to keep it.

Picking a profession (nursing) that gave me lots of opportunity and flexibility.

Realizing early on that retirement was something we wanted to do earlier rather than later, and sacrificing toward that goal.

Not being afraid to get into real estate and investment properties, this has been the number one contributor to our early retirement.

Being blessed bountifully by God. But thats not something we did, thats something we were given.

Pony · #5 12/17/14, 10:30 AM

First "best decision ever" is in choosing to follow Jesus the Messiah.

Next best (1a) is marrying Nick.

Then, working Dave Ramsey's program to get out of debt. We're not there yet, but we're on our way.

I think the best decision Nick and I made together was to JUST DO IT once we decided to move to MO. We got out of the 'burbs and hit the ground running, rather than putting it off like we did when we had that land in WI.

where I want to · #6 12/17/14, 10:34 AM

Investing in good perimeter fencing.

vpapai · #7 12/17/14, 10:39 AM

I know my worst decision, not buying tractor insurance on my Kubota when offered. Have been using it as a bull dozer/tree remover and have all kinds of dents. If I had had the insurance, it would have been $250 for 5k+ repairs........

handymama · #8 12/17/14, 10:57 AM

In chronological order:
Studying and getting good grades in school.
Spending lots of time with my grandparents discussing the old ways of homesteading, and getting lots of hands on experience in gardening and caring for fruit trees, bushes, and vines, pasture, barn, and spring maintenance, animal care, learning to preserve food, etc.
Going to work at sixteen in a hot, stinky, yucky job, to earn extra cash.
Learning to sew.
Learning to drive a stick.
Buying my house young.
Having my wonderful children.
Going to vocational school for a good paying, reliable job.
Not getting into debt by saving and planning.

emdeengee · #9 12/17/14, 11:39 AM

Best decision for a happy life was choosing the man who would be my husband. But then I knew the second I saw him that he was the one and apparently he knew as well as he proposed ten minutes into our first date and although I did not want to get married we did and 41 years later...

To get an education and career that allowed me to be flexible in where I worked and how much I worked and to earn very good money. Following my passion was for all my spare time as life is expensive and unless you inherit money it takes a lot of time, hard work and step by step progression to get what you want and where you want to be.

To always look after our healthcare including dentistry.

Following a simple back to the land lifestyle and NOT waiting until all the ducks were in a row. You can start homesteading in an apartment. Lots to learn and you can seek out places where you can get experience and training on weekends and holiday. The time to learn to milk a cow or chop wood or work a woodstove for cooking is not when you are in the new situation but be prepared.

Having the ability to face reality and admit when you have made a mistake and set about fixing it even if it meant a do over.

Homesteader · #10 12/18/14, 12:30 PM

Oh love this thread! Wrote a very specific list of the "perfect" man. Never had done that, and it was obvious I was not choosing men very well. I decided that if I dated someone, the minute he "failed" the list, there would be no more dates.

He came into my life about 2 months later.

Homesteading was a huge part of the list, he had to be a homesteader at least at heart. Funny thing, we met 6 months after he moved to the Big City, after living fairly rural all his life, partially because he couldn't find any women who liked living rurally. I remember our first date, he mentioned he owned a tractor.........I was like, looking up at Heaven going really? All it took was to write a list? We always joke, he had to move to the city to find a woman who wanted to live in the country (and wanted all the homesteading stuff....)

Well I've certainly done lots of right things over my whole life, too many to go over.

But homesteading wise, let's see, before moving to our homestead, I learned and practiced as much homesteading stuff as I could while living the the burbs. Canning, dehydrating, raising chickens (oh THAT'S a story), butchering chickens, quilting, candle making, cooking from scratch, wine/beer making, gardening.....I was already pretty well set on those things before we moved. Everything just got bigger/more quantity.

Horseyrider · #11 12/18/14, 02:25 PM

One of the best was to find a country home that was ready for the life I wanted. The house is old and solid, and the plumbing, wiring, and heating plant were up to date. The barn is a fabulous, grand old gambrel roofed monstrosity that was lovingly maintained, that only lacked the critters within to make it come to life again. The grounds were fenced and cross-fenced, the apple and cherry trees were bearing, and there was even the perfect old clothesline. Garden sheds, tool sheds, a corncrib to park the tractor and lawnmower in, all ready to go. I felt I'd moved to heaven.

We were able to start the life we wanted almost immediately, first with the garden, then adding chickens, then a dairy cow or two, and then my beloved horses. We have wonderful neighbors who share their woods and trails, and all we had to do was dig right in. We added our own touches and maintain things, but we weren't burdened with the up-front costs of spendy things like a new barn. Being able to spread these things over the life of our mortgage helped us a lot.

Buying a brand new Troy Bilt tiller back in the late 70s, when they were still the Cadillac of the industry, was another really smart decision. It was a shocking $800, but we still have it and use it, thirty-five years later. I wish that company had never been sold. Their customer service back then was outstanding.

Going organic, and growing clean veggies and meats. Going solar. Driving Priuses. I can't change the world, but I can change my little corner of it. It feels like a promise kept to my grandchildren, who will have to deal with the aftermath of my generation's choices.

okiemom · #12 12/18/14, 05:16 PM

1st my wonderful Dh and two kids

Listening to what the elders had to say

Just going for it and having to courage to believe in Dh and MYSELF that our life as we wanted it could be done.

Big Dave · #13 12/19/14, 01:07 AM

Finding the LORD
Finding the wife he had for me
Having the by pass(second chance at life)
Talking with all you people.

creeklady2000 · #14 12/19/14, 05:52 AM

This thread is wonderful!! Best thing is my life is the good Lord above he is the one that will never fail you!!! then my family and my critters and my simple life,, thank you Father.

MichaelZ · #15 12/19/14, 08:05 AM

When all that this world has to offer is stripped away, I will have my Hope in Jesus left. And for that, I am grateful! My ultimate prayer is that my family all join me some day as well.

BohemianWaxwing · #16 12/19/14, 08:39 AM

This is a good compliment thread to the "if I'd known then" thread.

I'd have to echo those whose best decision was seeking first some other kingdom than my own, that kind of puts all the rest in context.

I can't claim too much good judgement in my choice of mate. It was pure providence, finding the best; and I had no idea 10 years ago how "best" she was...

Next would be starting to tear down my ties to the poisonous financial system our country runs on. This one's a work in progress still, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I sure hope I can do better for my kids in providing them with alternatives!

Leaving the toilets out of our bathrooms when we had the floors re-done and switching to the bucket stystem. I get to horrify my MIL AND get tons of great compost with very little effort. What's not to love?!

jwal10 · #17 12/19/14, 11:51 AM

Using what God provided and being content with it. God has always provided, even though many times I didn't think so at the time. Prayers said, wait for answers. Hard at times but it was always worth the wait.

Sweetie, came along, right when needed the most. 2 kids even though I thought I only wanted 1 because I was so sick. The first was a true blessing, the second one IS my bestest buddy. Gave me a purpose at the time. This place, too small at the time for what I really wanted but it was what we really needed. Didn't take long to understand that, I could get out and do. Bigger I would have given up. I learned to live small. Best thing I ever did. Beach shack, old model T garage, perfect then, perfect now. How much I love the sea. Lake cabin, perfect. Farm....We kept a corner of a property we had because it was so peaceful. It gave me hope in my darkest days, just sat out there in my wheelchair at the pond, for hours and soak it all in. Didn't know if I would make it and missed the farm life so much. I have been blessed beyond what I deserve. I could complain about what has happened to me, but I can't. Prayer and patience....James

Buffy in Dallas · #18 12/19/14, 12:23 PM

The two best decisions that I can think of are leaving the church and becoming a Non-christian, and taking an online permaculture class. I'm free now and can follow my bliss.

BohemianWaxwing · #19 12/19/14, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffy in Dallas

The two best decisions that I can think of are leaving the church and becoming a Non-christian, and taking an online permaculture class. I'm free now and can follow my bliss.

Way to counter balance our religiosity there, BiD!

Curious what kind of church you left that felt so restrictive?

mekasmom · #20 12/20/14, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyDoc

Deciding to give my life to Christ.

That is the best decision anyone can ever make. My #2 good decision was to pray for a husband and marry mine. Having a family is my #3 best decision. After we have a family, everything other decision just kind of fades into the background.

I love this thread. Thank you for starting it.