Doh! Such a cliff-hanger. The feasibility of remote living really has to do with either how self-sustaining you expect to be (and are comfortable being) or how organized you’re willing to get so you get what you need when you have a chance and don’t end up spending all your time in your car.
Having lived on a farm 17 miles outside of town, I can say that there’s nothing more maddening than waking up on Saturday morning, ready to settle in for the weekend and realizing you’re out of coffee, for instance.
Oh Asha, I get it! My home in Idaho was 20 miles from town. I tend to never run out of things - I'm a planner and I purchase in advance - but the flip of that is often purchasing too much, hoping for company that never comes. But there is the occasional craving such as "wouldn't gelato be nice right now?" that can't be fulfilled if you don't live in town. And - what's different in Italy is not having space to store items. I've never seen a pantry, only cupboards that also house plates and pots and such. And refrigerators are pretty small too. So yes, all of that is worth keeping in mind!
If I didn't have kids at home, who benefit from the free-range aspects of living in town, I'd be off in the woods somewhere, for sure. I was just shocked that after buying an organic farm in order to "be part of the solution" we both ended up needing off-farm jobs to survive so we spent an inordinate amount of time in our cars burning fossil fuels.
Now, living in town, I walk nearly everywhere. The irony.
I can't wait for #6. I want to see the inside! And I hope you live in that cute house or off the beaten path somewhere so I can live vicariously through you.
Well I hope I can create a place that others will come enjoy as well. Vicariously or in person!
I didn't realize you had an organic farm. Yes, that's frustrating indeed! Years ago I was a share-holder in an organic farm - Angel Farms outside of Chicago. I LOVED getting my weekly box of fresh produce!! But to your point: I was working in environmental conservation when I purchased my home 20 miles outside of town. I felt so incredibly guilty. But then, everyone else I knew was driving at least that much to go hiking or skiing or something else, so... It's a trade-off. We do the best we can.
I don't have the farm anymore. It went, along with my marriage, both of which were good losses. The farm was never my dream, but my ex-husband's. This time of year I miss the fireflies, the bonfires in the yard, and the space to roam, but I never miss the winter commute through snow drifts and icy danger. I'd only live in the country again if I didn't have to go anywhere all winter, or if winter were not so... wintery.
I concur about the seasons! In fact, that will be in my next post. And yes, the bonfires, fireflies and space... those things are a slice of heaven. But not the cold.
Doh! Such a cliff-hanger. The feasibility of remote living really has to do with either how self-sustaining you expect to be (and are comfortable being) or how organized you’re willing to get so you get what you need when you have a chance and don’t end up spending all your time in your car.
Having lived on a farm 17 miles outside of town, I can say that there’s nothing more maddening than waking up on Saturday morning, ready to settle in for the weekend and realizing you’re out of coffee, for instance.
Oh Asha, I get it! My home in Idaho was 20 miles from town. I tend to never run out of things - I'm a planner and I purchase in advance - but the flip of that is often purchasing too much, hoping for company that never comes. But there is the occasional craving such as "wouldn't gelato be nice right now?" that can't be fulfilled if you don't live in town. And - what's different in Italy is not having space to store items. I've never seen a pantry, only cupboards that also house plates and pots and such. And refrigerators are pretty small too. So yes, all of that is worth keeping in mind!
If I didn't have kids at home, who benefit from the free-range aspects of living in town, I'd be off in the woods somewhere, for sure. I was just shocked that after buying an organic farm in order to "be part of the solution" we both ended up needing off-farm jobs to survive so we spent an inordinate amount of time in our cars burning fossil fuels.
Now, living in town, I walk nearly everywhere. The irony.
I can't wait for #6. I want to see the inside! And I hope you live in that cute house or off the beaten path somewhere so I can live vicariously through you.
Well I hope I can create a place that others will come enjoy as well. Vicariously or in person!
I didn't realize you had an organic farm. Yes, that's frustrating indeed! Years ago I was a share-holder in an organic farm - Angel Farms outside of Chicago. I LOVED getting my weekly box of fresh produce!! But to your point: I was working in environmental conservation when I purchased my home 20 miles outside of town. I felt so incredibly guilty. But then, everyone else I knew was driving at least that much to go hiking or skiing or something else, so... It's a trade-off. We do the best we can.
I don't have the farm anymore. It went, along with my marriage, both of which were good losses. The farm was never my dream, but my ex-husband's. This time of year I miss the fireflies, the bonfires in the yard, and the space to roam, but I never miss the winter commute through snow drifts and icy danger. I'd only live in the country again if I didn't have to go anywhere all winter, or if winter were not so... wintery.
I concur about the seasons! In fact, that will be in my next post. And yes, the bonfires, fireflies and space... those things are a slice of heaven. But not the cold.
Thanks for the continuation of this series, "Things-I'm-now-fascinated-by-that-I-didn't-know-I'd-be-obsessed-with-before-I-read-it"! :) What a ride!
hahahaha!! :) Thanks for reading!
THEN what happened...????