Well, we’re back from Virginia and I’m already sad. I didn’t want to leave the country, but I was ready to come home to be with all of my own things and schedule, etc. Now I’m dreaming of how we can make a life in the country. Rob and I both want to live a simpler life, one where we’re not both stressed to the max every single day and not enjoying life to the fullest. We both want a more laid back and relaxed lifestyle, something much closer to nature than what we have now. We are seriously investigating the possibility of moving there and building a house on my parents’ property.
Here’s a picture of a group of us standing about 1/4 way up the mountain on my parents’ land:
And here’s the view to the left when standing there. That’s my great grandmother’s house and farm we’re looking down on. She is no longer living and the house is unoccupied.
Here’s a picture of the house where we stayed while we were there. This is on the other side of the road from my parents’ property, up close to the top of the mountain. It’s my great grandmother’s daughter’s and husband’s home. She’s in the picture of all of us standing on the property.
You can see why we’d fall in love with the area, no? I’ve spent some time there in my life – this wasn’t my first trip by any stretch of the imagination – but I never thought I’d end up wanting to live there permanently with my family.
There are still some things I’m unsure about. Like the fact that a Starbucks won’t be a 5 minute drive away. No store will be closer than 10 – 15 minutes, in fact. I’m worried that I’ll feel suffocated in the desolation and will miss all of my friends and other family that I’ll leave behind. 12-step meetings will become a much more precious commodity, too. There’s a lot to think about, for sure. Rob and I have some serious thinking, talking, praying, and soul searching to do.