I have been wondering if anyone would envy my life. This feeling came after visiting a beautiful, huge new home built in my little town by a wonderful woman with more money then... well, more money then me.
Here is my current situation: I live in a 100+ year old home that is approximately 800 square feet. It is on top of a knoll surrounded by 100+ year old oak trees. We have 12 acres that is surrounded by public lands and two creeks on either side. We have no neighbors, but we are did just put in central air.. the buzz reminds me of neighbors!
I have 6 egg laying chickens, 4 baby chicks, three cats, and a super dog who I worship and who I think worships me back. We just put in a garden with three kinds of tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers, peas, beans, carrots, squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, winter squash, cucumbers, parsley, cilantro and basil. I have a new mint bed planted as well.
I live with my partner of 20 years and he works on again off again as a handy man construction guy for people around the area. He drives a 20 year old truck that was given to him three years ago by friends on his birthday. He is a beautiful man who has given me more in spirit then I have given him in comfortable thngs.
Our daughter is 18 and on her way to Hendrix College in the fall. Her typical week night consisted (last week anyway) of baking three small cakes to give away to family friends, working on an embroidery project, swimming in our small kiddie pool, and hanging out watching movies with us. She is, for the most part, pretty easy going and a delight to be around.
We don't buy much, pay cash for everything that we do, we don't travel much, we often make things that others buy (pickles, cheese, tomato cages, etc.). We live at or below what most would consider the poverty line because I gave up my big corporate marketing job to move to rural America, and work at home giving my services to smaller businesses who need them to succeed. (OK, I am a bit altruistic about what I do for a living... I have to justify it somehow.)
So, would you trade to live in my life? Would you live without medical insurance, security and things? Would you enjoy getting up early to catch an escaped chicken? Would you sew or thrift shop most of your clothes and home decor?
Is there anything envious about this? Or is everyone still rushing to live in a bigger home, with more stuff, and the hopes that will make them happy. I have to say I left that huge home feeling that no one would be interested in the little life that my family has carved out for ourselves. Somehow I felt that we had dove off the cliff and no one is following.
