Soon to be Tractor-less

[RobS]

It's been a journey!

My wife and I both grew up on rural property, but not farms. In 1999 we purchased 10 acres and built a home where we have raised our 2 boys. Of course, part of my justification for the property was the need for a tractor!

Much time has passed, oldest son is putting his masters degree to work in Indy and youngest is about ready to return for his junior year at U of M. We've been wanting to downsize for a while now and after 3 years, our house is finally sold! And the buyers want the tractor so we made a deal on it and all the attachments. It's been a blast but there are so many things we want to do and all of the property maintenance just seems to get in the way.

We're scrambling to find a smaller home, on a small lot (likely subdivision), and closer to my work (currently commuting an hour each way). I'll miss the fun parts of tractoring but can't say I'll miss the 5-6 hour mowing sessions. In fact, hoping to be able to pay a local kid to mow our new lawn and not have to mess with it a bit!

It's fascinating how our interests change over time. I'm excited for the future and thankful for all of our experiences to date. And like Bird, I'll stick around here as it's still one of the best communities on the 'net!

Here's one example of what we intend to fill our time with: View attachment Quilt Garden Ride_4976.jpg

 

[Mousefield]

Best wishes for your future. We sold our 14 acres over 3 years ago and bought a house on ½ acre.
Don’t really miss all the work as I was almost 65 and the fun part had to a large part had gone out of what was becoming chores that had slowly become harder to do and take longer. Good luck with your search for your new home.

 

[EddieWalker]

Hoping for a quick sale and less time mowing!!!!

 

[shooterdon]

I am at the other side of the spectrum. Will turn 69 in a few weeks. Got my first tractor last year and traded up this year to a "real" machine.

Have 20 acres and mow 2 with a Husky rider. Might get a zero turn to replace it down the road. Enjoy my tractor time....grading, clearing land, and doing chores. Looking forward to blowing snow with my new pull blower. Had twenty loggers cords delivered last week so need to get them processed and put the new grapple to work. Wood should last 3 years or so.

Being retired makes a difference. The tractor work keeps me occupied.

No desire to ever leave my little slice of heaven.

 

[jmc]

Rob, we talked years ago when you had an elderly friend living a few blocks from me. Look me up if you get back down here and you can take a few laps with my bush hog! Hope you enjoy your new location.

John

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, as I get older the tree work on 20 acres of forest take its toll. I see the 10 acres of pasture I own take a whole Lot less work. But then it gets hot and the pasture is hot and miserable. But the forest is cool and shady. A little piece of heaven. Guess I’ll have to keep trimming trees.

I spent a week recently cutting and grinding deadfall in the woods. What a chore. Gets less fun every year.

 

[oosik]

The beautiful part - you are able to do what you want and are not chained to a troublesome lifestyle. I'm out here on 80 acres and will be until I pass. However - as I get older I let Mother Nature take care of many of the duties I use to do. That's just the way it is here and the way I planned for it to be.

Enjoy your new life style and stay in touch.

 

[9973720wb19]

Ahh...more time to ride!!

 

[ruffdog]

When we feel we have become a slave to our lifestyle and land, it is time to change. I too have been thinking "Gets less fun every year". I have a neighbor that is trading their acres for a home in the 'burbs. Both families want what the other has....so they are swapping houses. It is a good deal for both of them and is happening quick.

 

[oosik]

In my case it may be a tad different. I've been out here so long and am so set in my ways. I don't think I could change to fit into an "urban" environment any longer. Also - I DON'T WANT to fit into an urban environment. You can't make an old dog do new tricks. Square pegs don't fit in round holes -

I visit my son in Spokane. I get an uncomfortable feeling when I look out his windows and can see other houses. Everything is so close and packed in.

Just not my lifestyle any more........

 

[ruffdog]

However - as I get older I let Mother Nature take care of many of the duties I use to do.

I think it makes a big difference on the location and how fast Mother Nature takes over. Some places may not change much in 20 years while other places are unrecognizable in 2 years because the wild fauna grows like CRAZY!

 

[Thomas]

Turn the page start another chapter as they say...very best to you and your bride Rob.

 

[oosik]

ruffdog - I have an old B&W photo of the place -1939. Same trees, same bunch grass, same 10 acre lake. 80 years and the only change - the pines are 80 years bigger.

'39 was the year my father bought this place from the original homesteader.

 

[TripleR]

What seems like paradise to some is pure misery for others; takes all kinds and we wish you the very best.

 

[Diggin It]

In my case it may be a tad different. I've been out here so long and am so set in my ways. I don't think I could change to fit into an "urban" environment any longer. Also - I DON'T WANT to fit into an urban environment.

I visit my son in Spokane. I get an uncomfortable feeling when I look out his windows and can see other houses. Everything is so close and packed in.

Just not my lifestyle any more........

Never again shall I live where I can hear the neighbor's toilet flush.

 

[Budweiser John]

Never again shall I live where I can hear the neighbor's toilet flush.

A-Men.....
I grew up in an urban area, 66 city lot and no way will ever return to that life style. We bought our farm 48 years ago raised two kids who are now successful adults. The kids learned early on the meaning of hard work, where food comes from and joy and devastation of birth and death.
We豎*e at the age where several of our rural friends are moving to Resort destinations and smaller property逞ｴ, some of which we have been invited to visit and I must say i遏･ Very happy they豎*e excited about their new life style but at 76 years, I遏･ not ready to give up my current digs.
I will admit we are outsourcing maintenance chores we heretofore did ourselves but for the most part, I enjoy the challenges of keeping up appearances.
Good luck to the OP on his new adventures.

B. John

 

[kcflhrc]

They make those 2 wheel things with motors, a lot less work and you can go a lot farther, just sayin

 

[Oaktree]

We豎*e at the age where several of our rural friends are moving to Resort destinations and smaller property逞ｴ, some of which we have been invited to visit and I must say i�･ Very happy they豎*e excited about their new life style but at 76 years, I�･ not ready to give up my current digs.

Where I live (northern N.H.) is a bit of a retirement destination. I have several neighbors who did just that. Not every retiree wants to move where it's hot.

They make those 2 wheel things with motors, a lot less work and you can go a lot farther, just sayin

I hear ya. I also never saw the "fun" in riding a bicycle.

 

[clemsonfor]

I grew up in the city on a lot. While it was one of the bigger ones it was still city, traffic all the time, small, have to climb fences or knock on doors to get your ball when it went over. Once I was older than like 10 I couldn't kick a ball or hit one anymore.

I moved rural. I'm in a very small town (100 or so people) but have just an acre but have my family farm property 2.5 hours away I get to go maintain and hunt on. I am in my latter 30s but can't imagine going back. In the city it now feels like you have eyes on you from every direction, and there is no space. I have so many toys and stuff I could not even hardly out it all on a city lot. I am self sufficient and with that comes a lot of tools and equipment, esp since I own a rural property and at some point some of that stuff is back at the house I live at for maintenance or use.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^^
The scary part though, is that people in that small town will know more about you than the people where you moved from.