Big Changes: A New Life

The most amazing thing has happened since I wrote my article about losing my major client. I applied for and have accepted a position as a caretaker on a small farm in southwest Virginia. After 31 years I’ll be selling up and moving out! I plan to be on the farm in a month. I have so much to do that my head is spinning right now but I’m excited.

A couple in Denver recently bought the farm but are planning to stay put for a year. They wanted someone to look after things, assist with some tasks and just basically inhabit their house to keep it from falling apart. My initial idea was to rent my house here in Texas for whatever length of time I was gone. Since then I’ve decided to sell up. I realized that, by selling my house and most of my things, I can go to Virginia debt free, possession free and commitment free. That’s a strong lure! When my time at the farm is up, I’ll be able to go where I choose. It’s a very exciting prospect!

Back in January I wrote about my goals for 2009. On that list I included being debt free and significantly reducing the number of my possessions. It looks like I’ll meet those goals, though not in any way I could have anticipated. I’ve been ready for a big change in my life for a few years now and have been putting it out there. The universe has responded in a major way!

I told my girlfriends this weekend and there were some tears but everyone is happy for me and a little jealous. Their first question was, “What airport do we fly into when we come visit?”. My family is thrilled. I’ll be equidistance between my two sisters and one of my brothers; one in Maryland and two in Georgia. My other brother, who is a trucker, makes regular runs to the vicinity. It’s been 31 years since I lived near family and I’m looking forward to regular weekends with them.

I’ve got a lot of calls to make today. I’ve decided to contact some estate sales people and have them come in and liquidate for me. I live in a two-storey, three bedroom home and I plan to take what fits in a 5x8 trailer and sell everything else. I have a couple of family pieces that I’ll take as well as my power, sewing and gardening tools and some kitchen things, including my beloved pots and pans. A few personal items will fill out the trailer and that’s it!

I initially planned to take my chickens but have realized that it makes better sense to sell them and get new ones up there. The farm owners are urban homesteaders too and are happy for me to have chickens, build a coop, plant a garden, all the things I love. I’m picturing bee keeping, some serious composting, maybe even a couple of milk goats. Who knows?! I will be taking the left behind pug and maybe my worms. I suspect they’ll be no trouble on the journey!

I need to call the realtor, get new shocks on my car, go by the U-haul place, the list seems endless! I plan to look for offsite paralegal work once I get up there. Roanoke, Virginia, and Winston-Salem, N.C., are close enough and I’m sure are full of lawyers. Once I’m debt free I’ll be able to live very inexpensively. I’ve been yearning to live a more simple life for a long time and this will be my chance to give it a try.

I’m scared, I’m overwhelmed by the amount I need to do, but mostly I’m exhilarated! I wish I could just pack a bag, get in my car and start driving but of course that’s not realistic. So, I’ll make my calls, liquidate my life and then hit the road. One of my sisters is flying out to help and will make the journey with me.

I’ll be blogging about the process and my new life. Wish me luck and join me here on my road back to simplicity!