After we decided to move on from our Indiana life, we began looking around to see if there was any land within our financial reach that we could handle on our own. Having spotted a couple of places on the “interwebs” that looked promising, we inquired about the ones we found online. The realtor we were connected with was really awesome at explaining what may or may not work based on what we were looking for. One of the spots had a little cabin on it which coincidentally, was in almost the stage of build that our a-frame was in! Laura, our rep kindly let us know that the place it was in may not always be passable in inclement weather, and it was such a large plot of land that it might not be the best place for us, who would only be there on weekends. She said that it would be very likely that folks would wander through when we were gone. Thanks and no thanks!
Once we narrowed down the list, we set up an appointment to go look at a few of them. The first stop was to look at a house on a little more than acres of land. It was explained to us ahead of time that the place needed some work. I was expecting the worst and totally did not want to get my hopes up since both the price and the location seemed perfect. Surely, it would not be what we wanted, but it seemed like a great starting spot.
The Farmhouse
About a week later, on my birthday, we took the hour and a half ride down the AA highway in Kentucky to take a look. It was a drizzly morning, but pretty warm for mid-December. It was apparent from the landscape that were in Kentucky. The hills and rushing streams escorted us the entire way there. Our first glimpse of the property included a short ride up the perfectly level gravel driveway- a far cry from the steep, choppy driveway that we had to navigate each time we went to the cabin.. It was a dream! The house was white with a green metal roof- probably the same roofing material that we used on the cabin. Was this a sign? Once inside the house, we could see the remnants of years of history. Wallpaper and paneling lined the walls, old encyclopedias were stashed in the corner of one of the rooms and an old farmhouse staircase led to the upstairs.
Nestled on a touch over four acres, the property lines were defined by an old railroad track on one side and a rushing creek along an open field on the other. There was a barn with electric and water in addition to a mobile home and a couple of other “out” buildings.
We had the pleasure of meeting the son of the previous owners, who had passed away not too long ago, but who had lived into their nineties. He shared stories about growing up there and how they used to farm tobacco in the open field. His dad raised pigs in the barn. The feelings and memories were warm.
After the tour, our realtor took us to see some other properties in the area, based on what we were looking for. We saw some beautiful acreage with some spectacular views and they all had the ability to add electric and water pretty easily. One of the properties even had an old log cabin upon it, which had been discovered when the owner started demoing the house. The wood, by our realtor’s account isn’t even around anymore; it is extinct! There was even an old stone fireplace with arrowheads embedded in the facade.
All of the properties had no restrictions, meaning that we would be free to build, say, another a-frame cabin or put an amish barn on them. They all had a minimum purchase of about 10 acres and had a nice mix of woods and open field. We went home with a top three but the farmhouse was the one that spoke the loudest, and in fact is still on center stage right now. We made an offer!
Homework: Keep Moving Forward
Be ready to turn the page. You need something to look forward to. Life is to short to mull over the past. Learn from it, but then move on.
After we got home from looking at all of the different properties, all we could talk about was all of the things we could do at the farmhouse. We could plant flowers, grow vegetables, host events, and do Airbnb. We can bring the cats, like right away if we get it! There is plenty of room for or family to sleep there with us when they come to visit. The list just goes on and on! Leaving the cabin was a hard choice to make, but having a plan for the future that we can visualize is what really gets me excited!
Keep searching for those things that make you want to get up in the morning. Those goals are the ones that get you through a hard day at work or help you face a difficult situation that you would otherwise avoid. Currently in this holding pattern, it has been hard getting through some recent weekends when I am missing working on challenging projects. To help me along, I ordered some seeds that I will plant at the new place and we have been dreaming up a storm about the things we can do at our little farm, if we get it. That, my friends, is what got me up this morning. Stay tuned!
Making Time for Tipi 