Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Dressing For The Country Life...

As you know, if you have been keeping up with my blog lately, I am planning to move to the country and build a cabin type dwelling. Escaping the trials and tribulations of the big city life is fast becoming an obsession, and not just a dream. However, as nice as it is to have a dream or a goal of this sort you have to be honest with yourself and ask some hard questions.

For instance, consider transportation. How old is your vehicle and what condition is it in? Will it serve the workload as needed, or should it be replaced before the move? Do you have the tools you need to undertake a task of this magnitude, or should you buy new tools for the job? What about medical care should you need it? Is it close enough? What about communication? What about fuel? The more you think about it, the more questions seem to arise!

Now, add to this mix the fact that you are on a fixed income and need to get the most from every dime you spend and the questions become even harder. So what do you do? Stop...take a deep breath, and start with the basics. Put things in the proper perspective. Make list after list and rearrange them until you get to a starting point.

Use the power of the Internet to help you find some of the answers. The tools you need, food storage and suppliers, alternate power supply providers, even durable clothing for working and living in the country all can be found on the Internet . Places like Northern Tools are great for quality tools and good prices. Food sources like Be Prepared are great to use for the basic food problem until you get the garden in. Good quality clothing that will stand up to use in the country or will stand muster even in city life can be a simple task as well.

Instead of just buying jeans, why not get something like BDUs? They look good enough for the city, hold up to the wear and tear of the country life, and most importantly are cost effective for most folks on a budget! And durable...? After all, BDUs were designed for the military , so you know that they are designed to be strong and serviceable, right?

The point I'm trying to make is to be practical and consider all the factors, plan as well as you can, stay within your budget and most of all...keep it simple and have fun! Sometimes a good sense of humor is worth more than gold, ya know?

Oh, just one more thing. Make sure to take lots and lots of coffee ! So put on your new BDUs, pull up a chair, and let's have a fresh cup...OK? OK!



4 comments:

  1. Hermit Jim - stopped by and read your blog. Do you already have your country property? Why do you wish to leave the big city ?
    Don't answer that if it is personal.

    Very chilly wind here today!!

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  2. Hey Myrna...I own some property in West Texas (Big Bend Area) near Terlingua and My oldest just bought 6 acres in the Ozarks, so I have a choice of places to go. As far as why, I guess I have always been a country boy at heart. I love the peace of mind and the quiet that comes from NOT being in the city. I like working with my hands, gardening, and all the things that comes from being in the country. And, of course, the critters! Raising chickens, goats, dogs and such just isn't practical in the city, ya know? Guesws I should do a post on all of this one day, huh? Thanks for dropping by...

    Jim

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  3. Lots of good points ! Thanks.

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  4. And I just wanted to say Thanks for the Link to the BDU's. I had NO CLUE what in the heck you were talking about. hahaha

    Your reply to Myrna sounds like something I would say. wow.
    Later Jim :))

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