Should I do it?

[MossRoad]

Sounds like you have a fear of being lonely out there. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Also remember, just because you have 250 acres doesn't mean you have to do anything with it. You could just landscape around the house and let the rest go back to nature(with a little intervention for your interpretation of nature). We bought 20 acres about 10 years ago and had a field reforested and let the rest go. It is now a nice woods and meadows. We were able to get a much smaller tractor and will use it to maintain some trails for hiking and skiing and the driveway and yard around the house. The other 19 acres will go to whatever creatures claim it.

 

[Slamfire]

It took us 3 years to go through all the money I got to retire early, sell 8 acres in PA for what I paid for 30 in TN, and the house in LA county. It is 26 miles to the store, but heck I drove that far to work on a FREEWAY! We love it, but we both grew up in rural areas. Oh yeah, my pension is more than most folks in this county earn by working. I'd stick with the 5 acres given your background. When you get older 250 is just too danged much to care for. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Chuck52]

Slamfire,

Panned any gold out of the creek yet?

Chuck (originally from Sweetwater)

 

[gsganzer]

20 minute commute? Heck, I drive 1.5 hours each way to work and believe that every mile is worth it to be "in the country". It's certainly dependent on your personal needs and desired lifestyle. But to me, the satisfaction of feeding the animals as the sun wakes up over the horizon or wiping the morning dew off of the fresh picked vegetables from the garden makes it all worth it. I can even whiz off the back porch and not offend the neighbors.

I don't know how old you are, or if you have or expect kids. But the most important thing to me was to have a place where my children have to take on some responsibility. Whether it's raising a goat, mowing the lawn or weeding the garden, the children get to feel first hand the responsibility and rewards of hard, honest work. That's something that I think todays kids are lacking.

Sure, country life can be inconvenient at times. But where else can families learn and share so much?

 

[Slamfire]

Chuck,

I lived over 25 years within 10 miles of the Oak of the Golden Dream, in Santa Clarita, CA. My panning desires are long gone. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif