I brought my four school aged children "back-to-the-land" in the early 90's to get them out of the city and let them absorb country knowledge and gain first hand wisdom. As soon as I got my RN degree in my early 30's (I was divorced), I bought the part of the family farm that my cousin inherited and had put up for sale. I was terrified that someone else would get it before I could and that would be awefyl. Well, I bought it afterall and we left Houston for our adventure. We lived in the broken down old farm house with no a/c (Texas) and no heat but the fireplace (cozy in Texas except for a couple of bad nights...the house was not exactly air tight). We pulled water out of the shallow well with a bucket until we got electicity and got milk goats and poultry and on and on. We were living as much off the land as possible. I became disabled when I was 40 with a brain injury. The kids are all grown and gone now, college, graduated, new jobs, married...so we are alone now on the homestead. I am still here full-time. For 8 years now. I am not allowed to hold down a "real" job or drive a car. (remember, I lived in Houston for 20 years), and now I am really a crazy ol' woman in the woods. Most of our food is coming from the homestead. Periodically. It comes in waves. But back to the subject....without kids, it is different. There was joy in teaching things to the kids that I had learned on this very farm from my grandparents. But now, it is nice to have a calm and peaceful existence, finally, with just myself and my man.....and all the creatures out here. We intend to stay here till we die.