I have always gotten a kick out of looking at real estate listings. To me it’s kind of like daydreaming about what you would do if you won the lottery. In my opinion a dollar is worth the price of the daydream. Lately, though, I seem to always look at real estate listings for farms. I look at the acreage, how far removed it is from civilization, and think about how much I could do with just a couple of acres.
Usually I think about these things as I’m running my kids from activity to activity. Or as I’m trying to rush dinner on the table before we have to make it to Scouts or piano. In those moments I think about how a small farm has come to represent life at a much slower pace.
I think about waking up and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee outside as I examine the beauty of the landscape and not the speed of cars rushing by. I think about how exciting it would be to have chickens to raise and provide eggs for our family. I think about how a slower pace might allow me to do things like bake fresh bread, sew my own aprons, plant and tend an impressive garden.
I think about how different our eating habits would be without the convenience of fast food, grocery stores just down the street, and the pizza guy’s number on the fridge. I wonder if my children would love to learn more about where their food comes from and what it takes to prepare in properly. I think about how much fun it would be to start canning from that impressive garden.
I wonder if I would have the time to pursue more pleasure reading, more homemade recipes, more enjoyment of the world around me.
Life here is the suburbs raising three children is so fast-paced. From the moment my eyes open in the morning until the moment I crash in the bed at night seems to be on high-speed. I know we’re responsible for this fast-paced life we’ve created and I know we could easily change it with a renewed commitment to the art of slowing down. But sometimes it’s nice to just imagine the idealistic setting of my own little farm.
This post was inspired by Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. As a member of From Left to Write book club, I received a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Be careful what you wish for–you may get it.
I’ve had this same daydream (: Bits and pieces. I’ve come to decide that there are bits and pieces of it that I -can- make reality. I’ve decided that this year, I’m going to take a class and learn how to can at home. I’ve wanted to know and read up on it for years but always been afraid I’d really screw it up without a live teacher to set me straight. (:
I too have been having the same daydream lately!!! In mine, I have horses, chickens and goats! (considering all I have now is a dog — all I’ve ever had is a dog, or cat, from time to time — this daydream of mine sounds really far-fetched. Yet, I too wonder if it would bring about a simpler life. One that I crave most of the time — except when I too am calling that local pizza guy cuz I am too tired or too unorganized to deal with figuring out dinner. Here’s to the dreamers, eh?
I dream of finding a place to call our own. One with ample space for a garden. But I know we’re not ready to take care of a house yet. It’s fun to dream!
Its a wonderful dream. I have often thought the same thing, Except of course for the sewing thing.
Neena-I’m with Brenda-be careful what you wish for. That grass of the small farmer is not necessarily greener. I think they must be some of the hardest workers in the country! But if you have a passion, hard work seems to come naturally. I love to peruse real estate listings too, my little guilty pleasure. With all the confusion surrounding the food industry, it would be nice to really know where all your food is coming from if it was your own farm! Dreams are good.
Alison
Right there with you! I’ve been having a lot of the same dreams lately. It’s funny to think that five years ago I swore I would never leave the city. A year later I moved to the suburbs. I love that our dreams and wants continue to change as we do.