Why do you live where you live?

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm assuming that most of us that have compact tractors have at least a few acres and don't live in town. I've lived in a variety of places, starting with the 100 acre farm in MI where I grew up, then going to apartments in varies cities including Houston TX and Denver CO. I currently have 6 acres outside of Columbus IN. There are times when I really like it here, such as a late summer night when all I can hear are the crickets and frogs and I can go in the back yard and take a wiz without anyone knowing. Other times I hate it here, such as when I have to wait until after 10am to do anything in the yard because the dew is so heavy it takes that long for it to dry off or when I'm having trouble sleeping at night because some stray dog is barking it's fool head off close by.

I've often wondered if I could find a better place to live, but having lived in 6 different states (MI, TX, CO, TN, FL, IN) and both in huge cities and out in the country, I've found that every place has its good points and bad points. Some people live where they do because that's where they could find work. Others just never wanted to leave the area where they grew up, even though it might not be ideal (I left MI because it's just too cold for me!). What are some of the reasons you all like it where you are and why do you stay there? If you could leave, why would you?

 

[MikePA]

I like living in PA because we get all the seasons but none of them are too severe or extreme. Further south seems to be hurricane prone, futher north gets more snow, further east gets the coastal storms and further west seems to get tornados. The weather in PA follows the advice of "All things in moderation." /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

It's difficult to say where I'd move if I had the chance. I've visited many places, e.g., Phoenix (in the spring), Champaign-Urbana (in the winter), Montreal (in the summer), etc. and actually liked them all, particularly Phoenix. But visiting a place sure isn't like living there.

 

[raptor]

Danny:

My family and I are were we are at this time in our lives because,
1) It's where I grew up.
2) It's where my wife and I work.
3) It's where our son attends high school.
Is it where I want to spend the rest of my days while I live on this earth? No, it isn't. That place is almost forty acres I bought from my wife's brother, near her home town in the absolute middle of now where, Oklahoma.
I've have watched my home town of 404 (1960's) BOOM to over 50000 folks and HATE it. Our place in Oklahoma shouldn't see that sort of thing - at least in my lifetime, it's that remote.
I was drawn to the place the first time I saw it. A small pond loaded with fish, deer signs and activity everywhere, excellent mix of woods and fields, and a county road for access that looks more like a cow trail (literally) than something maintained by a county road crew.
God willing, my wife and I will move there when our son starts college.
In the mean time I find myself daydreaming about it all day long.
Don't know if I really gave you an answer to what you were after or not.

Terry

 

[mwagoner]

When we moved to our present location in Kentucky my wife and I wanted a little acreage and to be centrally located. We landed where we did because it was affordable acreage and somewhat centrally located. We are 45 minutes from work for me, and approx 45 minutes to both of our families. I like it here, however within the past year we have had a son and it makes a world of difference. Now it would be nicer to be a little closer to work, our families and a store. Not mention the time involvement in maintaining a few acres. If only I had a tractor!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I don't know how some of you all manage to do all that you do.
My wife will make a comment every once in a while that it would be nice to be in a subdivision so we could have kids for our son to play with, closer to church and such. But I can never decide. It does seem as if we are always going somewhere that requires an hour's travel.
This is our third home in four years of marriage, the best so far.
But lurks out there is unknown.


Matt

 

[Thomas]

In the begining family roots,but know the area getting crowded and the youngsters mostly move away some have past away.
Why do I stay..I don't plan to w/in four years.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[MossRoad]

I have stayed in or near my hometown in northern Indiana. I like it here. My wife and I have good jobs, the cost of living is dirt cheap, her family still lives here and like MikePA, I like the changes of season(although we have the occasional tornado, the thunderstorms are what really scare me). You can go boating or snowmobiling, fish from a boat or fish on the ice. A pool for the summer and sleds for the winter. Grass to mow and snow to plow. Its a tractor owners dream come true. I hope to stay in this area until I die. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

<font color=green> MossRoad </font color=green>

 

[RichZ]

I grew up on Long Island, and spent almost my whole life there. I've traveled all over the east coast and midwest, and always loved upstate New York, and always wanted to have a farm there (since I was a little kid). When I grew up on Long Island, our community was a farm community, that became suburban and finally almost urban. I work for New York State, and last year finally got a transfer to upstate New York. Now I'm finally living my dream with a small upstate New York farm!

Rich

 

[Boondox]

I live in northern Vermont because I married a Vermonter whose family has been on this land since 1796. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifAfter growing up in San Diego and travelling all over the world in my 13 years with the Navy and Marine Corps, I wasn't sure the country life would be for me...but I absolutely love it here!

We have 154 acres of hardwood forest at the end of a dirt road. Our land is surrounded by 3000 acres of a cross country ski resort, and 10,000+ acres of state forest around that, so we don't have to worry about development beyond us.

I'm looking forward to getting old and cantankerous with my bride. My only complaint is the short lifespan of dogs; saying goodbye to those beloved companions is the toughest thing I've ever done!

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[Thomas]

True its tough Pete,but its the love you have and always will thru out the years ahead.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You're right Mike, visiting is not like living. When visiting a place one can be in "vacation mode" and not notice the bad things about a place and if you're in an area that gets a lot of tourists, the locals know you're a tourist and treat you great so you'll spend money. I agree with liking the four seasons. I got real tired of Houston because stays too hot for too long and it's always humid. I live right at the edge of the hills of Brown county IN and have a nice hill in the back yard for sleding. Unfortunately, it hasn't snowed quite enough to get a lot of use out of it in the 4 years we've been here. But the winters are mild compared to MI, so at least now I don't dread it when winters comes. How long does winter last in PA? Do you get much 90 degree weather in the summer?