A familiar and often used term...sounds easy enough. But for people like my husband and myself, it's really kind of difficult thing for us to do.
We are extreme multi taskers...we have to be, with so many irons in the fire - all of our own choosing - most all of the time we want/need to flip from one project or task to another most every day.
We were living comfortably in our beautiful home and hobby farm in WI. We were working at jobs and businesses that we enjoyed. Our major house revamping/renovating projects were complete, landscaping in and growing and our barns and animals were pretty much in a maintainable state. SO, or course... time to move and start all over. We've done that several times in our marriage.
The process always starts out with buying a property that needs a lot of work. We, together see the worth in the old bones of the lovely old home or building and we have a need and want to bring it back to life. We jump in and get at all of the work that needs to be done...it generally takes us years until completion. We love the place...but when it's done, we get the itch to look for and find a new project. Usually, an old house located on a larger piece of property,
But, before we thought of moving on from our house/hobby farm in WI, we bought a house in the UP...as a getaway place that was only a few hours away. After going up to this house for a few years, we decided that we loved the area so much that we decided to retire to UP Michigan. We sold the big house and property in WI, sold the weekend house in the UP and purchased 40 acres, with a 100 plus year old log cabin located on it further north in the UP Michigan. There were also many old buildings still standing on this piece and an older model mobile home. Thinking back, we probably should have kept the weekend getaway house...it was completely redone and so comfortable...but, no, onward to the next place in need of so much TLC.
We found our forever home - the old log cabin and 40 acres - on the internet. We drove up to view it ...just once...before we made an offer. It was a real fixer upper but had plenty of possibilities that probably only we could see. I am positive that the Realtor showing us the log cabin and property did not share our view. We were accustomed to that...we just needed them to get us into the property. We always invite the Realtor back after the project has moved along so that he can see...what we saw. Our only real requirements were that the living space was in the dry, that the land was a mixture of woods and enough garden land for our planned large gardens, had a pond and that there was enough room for our animals to be able to move about. And, we had a lot of stuff. From all of my husband's heavy equipment and extensive tools to the large amount of furniture and household items that filled our large home in WI. We also have many (many) collections of 'you name it'.
Our beautiful house and property in WI sold on the 1st day it was on the market with two competing offers - selling for more than the asking price. At the closing, we did make arrangements to be able to still live in the house, pack and move over a period of the next two months. Those two months had us hitting it hard...every day. Packing constantly and finally purchasing a container and loading it with all of my husband's heavy items. The container, when full, would be driven up to the property by a hired company. We were amazed at how the driver could back that huge, heavy container into a spot right next to the machine shed. We would make at least one driving trip to the UP every week...two trucks with two trailers. We also hired a flatbed to drive our skid loader, zero turn lawn mower and a few other pieces of larger equipment safely up to the property.
There was so much to do, but we knew what it ultimately could be...and it was perfect for us. This property was completely surrounded by 1000's of acres of state land. So, it was our next project and hopefully our final home. A lovely 40 acres and lots of old but still standing buildings, an old log cabin that needed to be completely emptied, an older but in good shape mobile home and a large shop/barn that also needed to be completely emptied. Why do all old garages, barns, etc. always have stacks of old tires and big old metal car parts that we have to pay to get rid of...I think I just answered my own question. $$$
So, with each trip, we would do some of each. Drive our things up to the property and find places for our boxes and containers. We rented and had commercial sized dumpsters at the log cabin property so that we could start getting completely rid of all of the things from inside the buildings. Kind of like when I go thrift shopping. I take bags of stuff to donate to the backdoor drop off spot and then go around into the store and buy bags of new 'finds' to take back home. Usually not my own donated items...but that has actually happened. We would do this move/drive at least once a week...lots of driving and hauling. But, it was early fall and the turning leaves were beautiful the further north we drove and the weather cooperated beautifully.
When we were there exchanging stuff for stuff. And throwing so many different kinds of things into the dumpster, we really began to notice how really rough the log cabin was. It had been used as a 'camp' for hunters for the last many years. What do we do next? What we always do of course. We would also buy a big old Victorian house in town. It was also in rough shape...but, it did have a working bathroom and kitchen...so...gold. It also had large empty areas and rooms so, we could store a lot of our furniture and boxes there for the time being. So, our Victorian large storage unit. It also became our place to stay when heavy, dirty jobs were being done at the log cabin...and then visa versa...large dirty jobs at the Victorian...we would stay at the log cabin.
At the log cabin property, on one of our drop off trips, we had to quickly mend the existing fences and throw up a shelter for our animals who would be arriving on our last trip UP north. We also had to patch a smaller building for our chickens and put doors on the machine shed/shop for our peacocks and larger equipment. We had to accomplish these projects before our last trip when we would load up and drive all of our animals to their new home. On that last trip, I kept thinking and asking the Universe to please hold off on the snow until we were there...us, our animals and all of our stuff. And, the Universe answered in the most positive way....on our last trip and arrival at our log cabin...we pulled in and just sat and stared straight ahead for the longest time. First of all, I don't think we could yet comprehend that this was our final trip, that we didn't have to jump out and unload and head back again...Secondly, beautiful heavy snowflakes began to fall while we were sitting there. I rolled my window down and called to my husband that we made it and the snow had been waiting for us to get here. He was sleeping. Which always gave me cause to be concerned...he was just driving minutes ago and now; he is fast asleep. I got out of my truck and went over to his and woke him so that he could see the snow. I climbed into his warm truck, and we both watched the snow in the headlights and just finally took a deep breath and relaxed at our new home in the UP. We were completely here...no going back.
We thought that the busy part had already happened...the move and all, but all of the work ahead of us at our new property...was going to be much more work. We didn't care...we were now retired...our house was sold and we were on our path to our dream of self-sufficiency.
We slept in the truck on that last trip. We left the animals in the trailer for the night because it would be harder for them to acclimate in the dark. The next morning, we pulled the animal hauler into the fenced in field and opened the door. The llamas and sheep all came jumping out and started investigating their new place. All of the smells of the woodland animals that had passed through their new field. We set up a temporary place for them to eat and drink. We had hay bales delivered and put into the structure that we had built...so, they were just fine for now...trying to remember, day by day.... it's impossible to get everything done all at once...patience...we'll get there.
Where to begin...a million (probably close to) things to do. We kind of ran around in circles for a few days pointing and spinning. My husband is rather laid back...and I am not. Between the amount of work that we needed to do and my constant talking and planning out loud, my husband suggested that we take a big pad of paper and drive into town and go to the local breakfast spot, talk about something else for a while and then begin a list of all of the of the projects and assign an order of importance. From the absolute necessities to the least important. We each had our own agendas, but we needed to coordinate our 'to do' list and work together. Try to be on the same page or at least in the same area. So, after a lot of writing and erasing...we came up with several phases and the main things that we needed and wanted to do in each.
It would take us years...but, that was okay...this is where we are going to live happily forever and ever.
But, one day at a time...we had to remind each other quite often in the beginning. But then it became our mantra.
By living life, a day at a time, it grounds oneself in the present, reduces anxiety about the future through small daily steps. It helped us manage our overwhelming challenges in productive, positive moving forward ways. We learned to slow our lives down, enjoy each day and stop and smell the pine trees.
We had both been pretty much workaholics all of our lives...we loved projects, dove in, worked like crazy, felt some satisfaction...but were always craving and hunting for the next project. Retirement and this giant move and change plus beginning to feel our age...made us stop and really revamp how we viewed life and how we wanted to spend the rest of it.
We decided that the way we would be happiest and most successful was with one breath at a time and one day at a time....and so the next phase of our life has begun...
