Can you see all these rooms nestled inside a turn-of-the-century farmhouse? I can. If it were my own home, I might have to hold back on the chippy paint just a bit, and inject a few more modern touches...but it does look very homey, no?
Have any of you given up the city for country life?
5 comments:
Lindsay -
I'm an Indiana country girl -- more than three stoplights in my town, but I grew up with corn fields on one side of me and cows in the back! Hated it at the time, moved to the 'big city' as soon as I could, eventually ending in NYC. I was happy there - for a few years, but eventually I needed a yard again. I'm not in the country yet, but I'm more suburban and I'm glad I'm here. I think I'd love to have some land but here in NJ it ain't gonna happen. What I miss most about being out here (only an hour fron NYC and Philly) is that stuff does close and the sidewalks do roll up at a certain hour, but I can deal with that. I've got an ocean just minutes away -- which means the world to me.
I can't wait to hear what happens. I'm a Michigan-born gal myself and despite the reputation it has (no, the state is not all like Detroit!) I would love to move back there, if I could be near the lake.
Hi Lindsay -
Semi-new visitor, here. :) I commented here eons ago but since starting my own blog only recently, I am rediscovering some of my favorite artists from eBay/Etsy/YouTube all over again.
I have always been a fan of your work, and I love how much it has evolved since you first started selling your paintings on eBay. Your artwork is beautiful!
As for your initial question in this post, my husband and I packed up and left the San Francisco Bay Area to live upcountry here on Maui. LOVE. IT. I was really worried about the transition (ie: island fever, upcountry living), but we could not be happier. It has been refreshing to escape the city-living lifestyle; being here has helped us to get "back to the basics", s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and just appreciate and enjoy life and one another. Besides, with ocean views and palm trees on our property, what's not to love? :)
Anxious to read how things go for you guys. Keep us posted, and happy painting!
xo
Angie
Hiya Lindsay,
here's my 2c: are you gregarious? Do you not mind driving in your car? Then country living won't be hard on you.
As a city person living with a bus going in front of my (charming, 100 year old) house every 20 minutes, I knew country living would be 180* different, and it is, mostly. Entirely different concerns. I had an amazing group of friends AND neighbors I left behind, and heck, I can't walk to get sushi or a farmer's market or home-made icecream (that last one, well, yeah, my thighs are happier). But here's the thing: my husband and I are introverts. We were social in the city because you're almost forced to be!
As for teenagers, ALL teenagers are going to be bored where they are; it's their particular affliction. But I am so much happier I am raising a country girl.
But we love our old farmhouse, we love our farm life one mile from Lake Michigan and 10 miles from a Target and a movie theater. And so what if I have to drive an hour for sushi! The only downside is our neighbors, though sweet, are quite a bit different from the ones in the city...and maybe that's just the luck of the draw, you know?
Hi Lindsay~I would give anything to move out in the country! When we moved here we were on the very edge of town-nothing east of us & NOW 15 yrs. later about a zillion buildings & houses have popped up along with a new expressway up the road & I just hate all the traffic & noise! I don't even enjoy walking our dog anymore because we just go down the same streets every time. I'd love to have a big field or wooded trails to take him! Someday I want a big old farmhouse (updated of course) with lots of trees & land & a big barn where I can take in all the stray kitties that seem to find me! So many families on our cul-de-sac have moved & now we hardly know the new ones so I don't think I'd miss any neighbors. Yours sound much friendlier tho. Anyway, good luck with the decision! ~ Jill
Lindsay
I think you need to discuss the activities you enjoy doing as a family. For instance, how often do you go to the mall, restaurants, museums, movies and use other city amenities? Would you rather be growing a garden? Do you work outside the home? El mentioned neighbors. I loved mine in the city, and I am luckly to have (mostly) congenial neighbors here too. But my new friends sometiimes live 30 miles away, so yes, it can be a lot of driving. I learned to combine trips even more than ever (and no public transportation which I used all the time in the city). Planning is a must (freezer) as there is no dashing to the corner store for milk or TP etc. Just a different life style. Meeting people was not through work but through garden club, volunteer fire squad and other organization we joined.
We moved 3 years ago - and I have never regretted in.
Post a Comment