All In!!, What made you finally Quit ????

Once our kids were in college, we realize that we hated living in the suburbs. We were concerned with the way the economy and Society was going. We did a bunch of research and checked out several areas of the country. We eventually move from Chicago to southwestern Missouri. We couldn't be happier. My husband jokes about retiring so he can move dirt and rocks around on our property but we eat what we grow and we have new friends and we just love the climate in the environment here. Go for it if you can swing it!!!

__________________
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. --Kent M. Keith

I had my family in Houston, and one day my daughter was home sick from school and neighbor called' turn on tv' so I did and drive by shootings were happening at my daughter's school as the kids got off the bus and again as they raised the flag. I decided right then no more city living for my family and moved em all to WA state. That little girl is 39 now and has 2 boys of her own and we are all back in the town where I moved em to. 3 hrs from Seattle, 2 hrs from larger towns and 10 miles from small town. My dad died 1 1 /2 yrs ago and begged me to take care of mom, so we bought the family compound and for a year plus have been learning how to start over on the family' homestead' . I have always had my hands in canning and preserving so we are just expanding into self sufficient ways

I had wanted to for years before I took the plunge... When was I young, I lived with my grandparents on their 90 acre farm, an amazing homestead, the likes of which I have not seen since. When I was in my early twenties, I married a guy who had no interest in the lifestyle, however he did agree with me buying organic, gardening, canning, and dabbling... After we divorced, I became determined to homestead more seriously, someday...kept gardening, working, going to college, and then married DH#2. Then, it all came back with a vengeance! He had an amazing garden, fruit trees, raspberry vines, grapevines, liked to fish, etc... We took the leap together ten years ago, but just recently awoke to "really smell the coffee." Neither of us were getting younger, our property wouldn't be paid off for many years, and my DH was under too much pressure financially, turning 58 this year (I am 50). So, the decision was made to start over, yes, at our ages! We bought a property, will be paid off in (5) years or less, and DH is building us a log home (out of pocket without a loan). In just a few weeks, we have made strides, getting (11) of our fruit trees moved, with more bushes, vines, perennials, herbs, and even some ornamental varieties moved over. Our new property may not have as much gardening space, but we can effectively grow what we need here. We know it will be hard work for a few years, but very worth it! Now, instead of not seeing myself retired, I will get to, and DH builds our home, he can retire if he wants to.

__________________

Christie Acres
www.SequimForLife.com
http://www.irealtyvirtualbrokers.com...lori-christie/
http://luxurywaterviewhomes.com/
SequimLiving@gmail.com

I've always known I wasnt ment to be a 9 to 5er.. even though I was raised in the midst of suburbia where it was the norm.

At school teachers would ask, ' what do you want to be when you grow up '
1. Pro equestrian
2. Horse Trainer
3. Farmer

I was always the odd ball.
Luckily I picked a great guy while I was still in highschool, convinced him to buy us a house in the country after i became pregnant with the 1st babe, then convinced him I needed chickens, then I made a trade with some chickens for a goat, and luckily his cousin owns a game ranch and gave me another goat for my birthday and it's just built up with little things like that.

Poor guy, didn't know how crazy I was going to get.
.... little does he know the crazy isn't fully unleashed yet and I'm just getting started


I am truly blessed to have his full support.
He works the dawn to dusk job while I stay at home and figure out how to make my "hobby" finance itself

__________________
I always wondered why somebody didn't do something, then I realized I am somebody

Thanks Westexas! I had my first day in court this week. I'm content with the temporary settlement we reached. It was a little less than I could have gotten but a LOT more than he wanted to give! The final court date will be in 2 to 3 months. I'm aiming for the jugular!

Freya, My parents still own the land and I could still buy it from them. I'm trying to decide if I want to keep the 14 acres or they said they could sell it and after they get what they paid for it, they could use the profit to help me get a smaller property. The more I think about it, that might be the smart way to go.

Had always been working towards "the home in the country" but the thing that made us go now was a combination of the low interest and property costs right now...coupled with the big Five-O coming rapidly down the pipe. I want to be out there and still have years to enjoy working my land.

Still counting down the days/months/years. Socking away as much money as possible to quit our jobs. Corporate America is full of greed and I never want to equate myself with their morals and values.

Looking forward to the day when we can move to the 9 acres we bought. Our timeline is 3 years and hopefully we will be where so many of you are today.