I
grew up in a small town with large family farms surrounding us. While many are
not so “family” any more, my hometown is still considered by most that live
there a “farming community.” Of course, I don’t live there any longer, but I’m
a short 15 mile drive away. So, living on a farm should be easy if I really
wanted to, right?
Sadly,
there are issues. I don’t want (and couldn’t pay for) 400 acres of prime farm
land. I want 5-10 acres of decent farm land and no one sells plots that small
in my area. Not to mention (though I will) the cost per acre of halfway decent
farm land in my area would be astronomical even if you could buy such small
acreage. Also, I live in CA where the taxes and regulations put even large
farming operations out of business.
Of
course, there is nothing nailing my feet to the ground in CA except a slightly
underwater mortgage (that is getting closer to the surface every day) and
family. The wife would absolutely love to move away to another state. The
kiddos would get over it when they find out how much easier it is to breathe
outside our area. Even some of my extended family has hinted at a “you first”
approach. I’m a teacher, so I can move anywhere there are schools and likely
find a job.
So
what is stopping me from moving to another state and living my dream? Well, fear,
mostly. The last time I did something so drastic I was much younger with a
smaller family and no real career. Now, I’m in my 40’s, a wife, 2 kids and a
career where I have some potential (arguably). Within a year, my house will be
worth more than I owe on it, so I could leave CA with a few dollars in my
pocket, but not nearly enough to just start over.
Don’t
get me wrong, I know it is possible. People have done exactly what I would like
to do under far worse conditions. But, have you ever noticed how a lot of the
homesteaders that blog online were given their land by family? That would an
incredible gift as the land is the most expensive part of the process and
knowing someone with intimate knowledge of the land is beyond incredible. That
will not be happening to me as no one in my family has anything beyond their
8,000 square foot suburban lot.
So
will I ever move to a farm and become more self-sufficient? I don’t know. I do
have a plan formulating in my head, but nothing substantial. I will be looking
at what types of credentials one needs to teach in other states and the cost of
property, water, etc., before I make any more decisions. You never know what
the future holds…..