New home...new life direction.

[strengverboten]

Gents, if all goes well my wife and I will soon be moving out of our current 3,000 sq ft home into a log home of the same size but on 11 acres, outside any city's limits.

New house will have ample family expansion room and farmland to utilize.

Along with this we'll be getting out of our BMW 335i sport coupe into a more family ready type of transport, and lord willing moving me out of my current occupation into something more aligned with our future.

We've already entertained plans of moving my aged mother onto our property into a cabin of her own.

Forgive me for sounding a bit unsure of myself here, but this is a major step for me. I'm mid 30's but suddenly it seems that "adult" life is sneaking up on me really quickly!

I know this is the right step for us but it is big change from our last 6 years of very self centered style of living.

I'm not at all "new" at making big boy life choices - but I'm eager to hear a few quick do's and don'ts of how to move beyond newly married pirate into family oriented warrior.

Or am i over thinking it all? Beyond putting family needs first is there anything that changes THAT much when going from married couple to family?

[ToddC]

Streng, you have always seemed to be highly squared-away. Not sure I can offer any advice other than keeping strong faith and a good marriage. As said here, GFT...

And change is uncomfortable no matter your age or situation. We're in process of building much larger home, stressed to max all around, and strangely our marriage has never been stronger.

Prayers and best wishes for your new adventure!

[strengverboten]

Streng, you have always seemed to be highly squared-away. Not sure I can offer any advice other than keeping strong faith and a good marriage. As said here, GFT...

And change is uncomfortable no matter your age or situation. We're in process of building much larger home, stressed to max all around, and strangely our marriage has never been stronger.

Prayers and best wishes for your new adventure!


Kind words sir, thank you. In the past I've made *alot* of mistakes - marriage ending mistakes, career altering mistakes - you name it, I've messed it up BUT at least that's provided me alot of learning ops...

also we all know there's more to being a good man than not repeating the past.

You're right changes aren't bad but they are always change - and there in lies my concern.

Best wishes To you in your new home as well. Have you got a finish time period for the place?

[JeffC]

Sounds like that you're not only on track, bat that you are ahead of the curve. Now get this property paid off and you have your life setup. I have long said that you can't screw with someone who doesn't owe any money.

-jeff

[Web Services]

Gents, if all goes well my wife and I will soon be moving out of our current 3,000 sq ft home into a log home of the same size but on 11 acres, outside any city's limits.

New house will have ample family expansion room and farmland to utilize.

Along with this we'll be getting out of our BMW 335i sport coupe into a more family ready type of transport, and lord willing moving me out of my current occupation into something more aligned with our future.

We've already entertained plans of moving my aged mother onto our property into a cabin of her own.

Forgive me for sounding a bit unsure of myself here, but this is a major step for me. I'm mid 30's but suddenly it seems that "adult" live is sneaking up on me really quickly!

I know this is the right step for us but it is big change from our last 6 years of very self centered style of living.

I'm not at all "new" at making big boy life choices - but I'm eager to hear a few quick do's and don'ts of how to move beyond newly married pirate into family oriented warrior.

Or am i over thinking it all? Beyond putting family needs first is there anything that changes THAT much when going from married couple to family?

My comment is, if you can actually AFFORD all that stuff, then you are doing pretty freaking well!

Lets just say, I could only dream of moving onto 11 acres in a 3000 sq/ft log cabin at this point, and I'm early 30s. But on the flip side, if you CAN'T afford this and are borrowing out your ears to get it, that's the only caution I can offer. Borrowing money can always come back to bite you if you don't plan right.

[strengverboten]

My comment is, if you can actually AFFORD all that stuff, then you are doing pretty freaking well!

Lets just say, I could only dream of moving onto 11 acres in a 3000 sq/ft log cabin at this point, and I'm early 30s. But on the flip side, if you CAN'T afford this and are borrowing out your ears to get it, that's the only caution I can offer. Borrowing money can always come back to bite you if you don't plan right.

Wise words...

But no, we're well qualified to live in a place like this. We owe less than half of what our current home is valued at, and have quite a but put back to buy our way to a much shorter mortgage.

I like nice things but if it took maxing myself out on credit to do this, then I wouldn't.

[twodogstx]

You have already made some very good decisions about this move.... and at a younger age than most of us. ( I was 45) When it comes to living in the country, utilize the wisdom of long time residents and neighbors whenever possible. Beg and borrow whenever possible until you are able to buy the appropriate tools and big ticket items. (Tractors, brush hogs, hayforks, box blade, front bucket) Commit yourself to becoming a excellent fence builder. From a security standpoint, DakotaAlert makes some excellent battery/on grid intrusion systems with MURS radio application. It is very important to know when someone is coming down your driveway. Stuff happens fast in the country. Look into the possibilities of having agricultural exemptions for your property...big tax savings there. If not homestead exemption for at least part of the property. Congratulations on your move.

[ToddC]

Kind words sir, thank you. In the past I've made *alot* of mistakes - marriage ending mistakes, career altering mistakes - you name it, I've messed it up BUT at least that's provided me alot of learning ops...

Best wishes To you in your new home as well. Have you got a finish time period for the place?

Ditto on "learning ops", bro. BTDT. Should break ground this month on 6-7 mo completion, providing plenty of future learning opportunities!

[strengverboten]

From a security standpoint, DakotaAlert makes some excellent battery/on grid intrusion systems with MURS radio application. It is very important to know when someone is coming down your driveway. Stuff happens fast in the country. .

Agreed.....I should disclose that I own 40 acres of land and another older farm house about 25 miles for this place (where we'll be hosting CPM and CRG in June lord willing)

But this was family land that is what it is and I didn't really have much say in its development except for the security. Locked gates - cemented corner poles for the fence, so on.

But again this place is far enough away that more or less know one except 80 yr old neighbors are around.

The new place is only a couple miles from another house so yes security will be a new challenge. I had thoughts of trees planted very close together all along the property line. Thoughts ?

[AlwaysVigilant]

Change is development, and comfort in anything but character is an illusion. That said, being smart about the tangible things in life will never be an error if done with the goal of living a life that you want to live. If your growth as a man, husband, son, and Christian is leading you here...sell out to it!

Oh, and congratulations! You serve your loved ones well...who can ask for a better legacy?

[EseLoco918]

The weekend right before Christmas I moved to a 10 acre property just outside of town in the mountains with my woman, 2 kids and 2 dogs. Shannon had never lived anywhere but around Phoenix so she has been having a hard time adjusting to the fact we can't just run to the corner for milk. It has also been sub freezing temperatures the last few weeks so that is rough too.

The entire 10 acres is fenced, gated, and locked at all times. No trespassing signs are posted all along all sides of the fence. I am having issues with elk tearing the barbed wires apart. My dogs bark at them but the elk don't care. My house is also actually the only one you can't see from the main road due to the trees and vegetation.

The guy that built this place did a fantastic job, it has a well, huge water storage tank, 500 gal underground propane tank, wind generator, solar panels, and wood stove. I am close enough to neighbors that we can't shoot at varmints really, but we do keep suppressed carbines ready to go.

I chop wood, build fire, patrol the property, control the land. This is the way men are supposed to live. Still have the advantages of being close enough to town that driving to work or go out to dinner is not an inconvenience but still have the privacy a guy deserves. I love it this way, I don't think I could ever go back to a city.

[aklovinguy]

Agreed.....I should disclose that I own 40 acres of land and another older farm house about 25 miles for this place (where we'll be hosting CPM and CRG in June lord willing)

But this was family land that is what it is and I didn't really have much say in its development except for the security. Locked gates - cemented corner poles for the fence, so on.

But again this place is far enough away that more or less know one except 80 yr old neighbors are around.

The new place is only a couple miles from another house so yes security will be a new challenge. I had thoughts of trees planted very close together all along the property line. Thoughts ?

I think thats a great idea.If you are in a area where you can get hedge trees/osage orange trees , they make great property barriers.

All you have to do is submerge a bunch of the hedge apples (witch contain the seeds) in a bucket of water through the winter .

In the spring dig a shallow trench and poor the slosh in and cover it up.

A few years later you will have the beginnings of a impenetrable tree line. Good luck bro, like others have said you seem to be squared away. Change is always uncomfortable. But it sounds like you are making wise moves for you and yours.

GFT

[foxytwo]

It sounds like you have made a good decision. If you back out you will always look back and kick yourself for not doing it. Go for it.

[OdieWon]

Streng, it seems to me that you'll be just fine. Family figures itself out. Just love them extravagantly and be who you are. They'll love you for it. Surely goodness and mercy will follow you all of the days of your life. But if it doesn't, may your hands be swift and accurate, and may your enemies go down with great anguish, wailing and gnashing of teeth!


:finger::yup:

[ss58]

Streng, already said..you are squared away. We all make mistakes, the wise learn and grow stronger from them. Go for it Brother and best of luck.

Respectfully,

Sam

[strengverboten]

Thanks for all the great replies and kind words gentlemen....

We're heading out to walk the property with the realtor (my wife's sister). I'll post some photos and get opinions when we get back in tonight.

[WinstonSmith]

You're doing fine. We're about the same age-- call me when you catch up on the number of kids! We've got 4. :biggrin:

Our builder is almost done on our house out in the middle of nowhere. We've already started moving some stuff in.

[aklovinguy]

Congrats on the completion of the fortresses Winston!

[WinstonSmith]

Congrats on the completion of the fortresses Winston!

Fortress it isn't. Domicile it is.

It will rot and is tied to this earth, but should hopefully outlast me.

[tmbk2]

Intetested in your sit Stren, did several city, country, city country moves and then settled way out in country again at 33 years of age on 10 acres, the fencing and Dakota Alert sytems are tips, always wanted one but still haven't installed either. No one in my area has fences or gates and I would stick out I I did so after a while, I decided to go the oposite direction and run my property entrance looking the shabbiest in the whole area. I wouldn't want to venture up my 1000 foot drive and lets just say, looks can be very decieving. Still, fence, gate and security system will probably be on my near future buy lists.

Anything you can do to make the place a bit more self suficient is a plus, fruit trees, garden, etc.

Check out fire danger potential! Being burned out is not a good way to go. A fence and gate will not stop a raging forest fire!

I don't shoot on my place any longer. I used to a lot! but I just don't trust the current political climate, too many people buying into the nonsense, I have chosen to run nice and quiet.

Get involved with the community, we moved around and always went to church but never got involved, never really joined a congregation except on paper. It really helps with setting roots down if you volunteer your talents, maybe the church is looking into it's security situation? Lot's of things you can do other than tossing in a Franklin on Sunday.

I could ramble on... I'll check back on this thread in the future. Best to you Stren!

[Barker]

Life is about priorities. Sounds like you have yours right. Prayers and best wishes for your new home.

[strengverboten]

Here's a few quick snaps from yesterday gents.

Inside the red barn are 4 premium horse stables with cement floors/drains/ powered gates... Which is great because I don't know sh*t about horses. :dunno:

Like all places, it needs a few touches to Bon Vivant approved... but It has room to build, and both my mom and my wife's mom are widows. Its about time that someone step and take care of them like they took care of us. That along with room for my own family is the driving force behind the whole thing.


http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac217/sswaffenk98/photo-6.jpg

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac217/sswaffenk98/photo-7.jpg

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac217/sswaffenk98/photo-8.jpg

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac217/sswaffenk98/photo-9.jpg

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac217/sswaffenk98/photo-10.jpg

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac217/sswaffenk98/photo-11.jpg

[jmac_52]

That's a fine looking place!

I've always had a fondness for Arkansas, and considered it for a retirement area. The wife and I have spent many days traveling there, admiring the scenery and hunting rocks. She's always been a rockhound, and she's about got me hooked on it, too. :cool:

[ss58]

Very nice Streng. Best of luck and my deepest respect for stepping up to take care of the family and make a better life for all. This is what a real man does, sadly it has become the exception rather than the rule.

Sam

[strengverboten]

That's a fine looking place!

I've always had a fondness for Arkansas, and considered it for a retirement area. The wife and I have spent many days traveling there, admiring the scenery and hunting rocks. She's always been a rockhound, and she's about got me hooked on it, too. :cool:

Kind words sir. Thank you. I'm under no illusion about it being the nicest place on earth. I'm pretty certain many member homes will dwarf it....but making it rich on the insides is what counts.

And if you like rock hunting - Arkansas is your place , for rocks we have in abundance.

[JeffC]

... I'm under no illusion about it being the nicest place on earth. I'm pretty certain many member homes will dwarf it....but making it rich on the insides is what counts...

If it is filled with loved ones and friends, you and your house are already rich.

Fine looking place, let me know when I can book a room :biggrin:

-jeff

[Mr. Anthony]

Awesome!

Also, never underestimate the potential usefulness of a nice barn, whether you get horses or not.

Sent via facsimile machine

[WinstonSmith]

Looks good. Excellent curb appeal. But I'm biased. :wink:

[strengverboten]

Looks good. Excellent curb appeal. But I'm biased. :wink:

Thank you sir...

Admittedly it isn't as secluded as I first sought out to find, but beyond having a place on a island like Bae, what is?

[WinstonSmith]

Thank you sir...

Admittedly it isn't as secluded as I first sought out to find, but beyond having a place on a island like Bae, what is?

We wanted secluded and nice. We spent a year looking all over (not even with much geographical restriction since I don't have one with my occupation, we just looked "in state") and we gave up, found land and built ourselves.

I found exceptional homes on smaller lots than we wanted, with neighbors in full view, or easily visible from the road. Then I found exceptional properties with homes we just refused to live in. We wanted both, a nice house and a nice property-- building it ourselves just made sense.