It would be crazy NOT to love it. Sounds amazing to live in such surroundings. We like where we live too. Although I do miss the Alps where I used to live, I get the sea instead.
Really happy to have found your writing! I live in the country, in the UK, but only a 5 minute drive from a small town… and people say we live ‘in the sticks’ and are very ‘remote’ 😂 I’d love to get more remote to be honest as it just removes so many distractions from here and now, from the beauty of and connection to nature 💚
It cracks me up how distorted people's perception of distance and disconnection can be! It does remove a tremendous number of distractions, you're right. Distractions that can masquerade as conveniences. And thank you for saying you're happy to have found my writing! That makes my day!
Even if I don't live in a holiday destination, I totally subscribe to the Seth Godin quote you shared. It's also what I like to inspire and help other people to do. To stop living on autopilot. To move beyond their socialization (adopting what they've been told during their upbringing, education, and society) and figure out what fits them, what they find meaningful. To ask "What do YOU want?" A surprisingly hard question to answer authentically. The way we've been socialized keeps butting in... And despite my reservations around 'why' questions, this is one context where asking 'why' is useful.
Glad I'm not the only one who actually enjoys being where they live! Located amid the Western Maine mountains where wilderness abounds, I bought my farm 6yrs ago. I love my home, my work and my life. Sure it might be a trek to the nearest grocery store, but I don't like running errands anyway, lol.✌️
I love Western Maine mountains! We're actually on opposite ends of the same mountain chain, from the Southern Appalachians to the Adirondacks. Good to hear from you!
No, you're not crazy. I live in a similar place. Vacation homes all around me; only a few dozen live in the area year-round. I'll leave when they carry me out in a pine box.
Haha. Same here, fewer than 20 year-round residents. And I've said the same - they'll carry me outta here. I want my ashes to be scattered in my forest. Thanks for commenting.
LOL, I'm compiling a list of the places I want my ashes to be scattered. It will basically be my favorite backpacking spots throughout my life. My kids will have to go backpacking to fulfill my wishes...
Just found your Substack 😄We did similar, moved to a small town on the Oregon Coast. Beautifully desolate for 9 months, crazy with tourists from around the world for 3. We live where everybody wants to be… but no Target, thank god. Looking forward to reading your articles!
'I bought this property to be here, not just sleep here.' Oh yes, exactly that. So lovely to read this. I once had such a place and long for it again, so many thanks for the reminder of what it can feel like and that it is possible to make it work.
"I’ve set up a slow life I don’t need to escape from" I relate to this so much, Marsha!
We've been on our little property for about 7 years now, 30 minutes from the nearest town, errands once a week or so, living here instead of just sleeping here, all the things you described! We have a little forest with streams and vernal pools, connected to a rails-to-trails path, and most of the time when we "do something" together, it's right here at home!🤣
Our lives are a true gift, aren't they? Even though I'm at the top of a gorge and there's a creek and waterfall I hear 24/7 below my property, I can't get there from here, at least I haven't found a way yet that won't kill me. Dense undergrowth and a pretty steep incline. I was told there's a spring below my house and a neighbor, a former hydrologist, saw a "cavern" that was blocked by felled tree branches where he suspects the spring would be. Likely with snakes. But it's killing me I can't get to it because I'd love to have water somewhere on my ridge! Did you see my post about cutting a trail through a rhododendron thicket? https://marshastopa.substack.com/p/unexpected-lessons-navigating-a-rhododendron
How fascinating! I hope you find a way to the spring and the waterfall! You're quite resourceful, I wouldn't be surprised if you puzzle something out :) So far, we've found that many of our projects begin as an "I wish" idea that slowly turns in the backs of our minds for a long time before something falls into place to get it started. It often feels like nothing happens quickly around here, though we stay busy! 🤣
Thank you! I'm starting to realize those "wish" ideas that take a long time are just the way slow creativity works. I'm learning to work with that pace more.
It's not easy to slow down, honestly I still struggle with it, but so many of the things we work on in this lifestyle just do take a long time so it's not like we have a choice! :)
Hell yeah! Some of us are born to live on the edge (of the forest)
Haha! So true!
Crazy or not, I sorta envy you!
I pinch myself every day!
It would be crazy NOT to love it. Sounds amazing to live in such surroundings. We like where we live too. Although I do miss the Alps where I used to live, I get the sea instead.
I was in the Alps once, when I was 17. Amazing energy, very different from the sea. What a gift you've been able to live in both places!
Really happy to have found your writing! I live in the country, in the UK, but only a 5 minute drive from a small town… and people say we live ‘in the sticks’ and are very ‘remote’ 😂 I’d love to get more remote to be honest as it just removes so many distractions from here and now, from the beauty of and connection to nature 💚
It cracks me up how distorted people's perception of distance and disconnection can be! It does remove a tremendous number of distractions, you're right. Distractions that can masquerade as conveniences. And thank you for saying you're happy to have found my writing! That makes my day!
Mmm ‘distractions that can masquerade as conveniences’ is so accurate! Happy to make your day ☺️
Even if I don't live in a holiday destination, I totally subscribe to the Seth Godin quote you shared. It's also what I like to inspire and help other people to do. To stop living on autopilot. To move beyond their socialization (adopting what they've been told during their upbringing, education, and society) and figure out what fits them, what they find meaningful. To ask "What do YOU want?" A surprisingly hard question to answer authentically. The way we've been socialized keeps butting in... And despite my reservations around 'why' questions, this is one context where asking 'why' is useful.
“Set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” Words to live by. 😊
Glad I'm not the only one who actually enjoys being where they live! Located amid the Western Maine mountains where wilderness abounds, I bought my farm 6yrs ago. I love my home, my work and my life. Sure it might be a trek to the nearest grocery store, but I don't like running errands anyway, lol.✌️
I love Western Maine mountains! We're actually on opposite ends of the same mountain chain, from the Southern Appalachians to the Adirondacks. Good to hear from you!
No, you're not crazy. I live in a similar place. Vacation homes all around me; only a few dozen live in the area year-round. I'll leave when they carry me out in a pine box.
Haha. Same here, fewer than 20 year-round residents. And I've said the same - they'll carry me outta here. I want my ashes to be scattered in my forest. Thanks for commenting.
LOL, I'm compiling a list of the places I want my ashes to be scattered. It will basically be my favorite backpacking spots throughout my life. My kids will have to go backpacking to fulfill my wishes...
Oooh, good for you! Haha.
Just found your Substack 😄We did similar, moved to a small town on the Oregon Coast. Beautifully desolate for 9 months, crazy with tourists from around the world for 3. We live where everybody wants to be… but no Target, thank god. Looking forward to reading your articles!
Thank you, Lutzi! I need to get to Oregon one of these days. See it on YT videos and it's stunning. Glad you're here.
'I bought this property to be here, not just sleep here.' Oh yes, exactly that. So lovely to read this. I once had such a place and long for it again, so many thanks for the reminder of what it can feel like and that it is possible to make it work.
Thank you, Julie! Pleased to have given you a lovely memory.
"I’ve set up a slow life I don’t need to escape from" I relate to this so much, Marsha!
We've been on our little property for about 7 years now, 30 minutes from the nearest town, errands once a week or so, living here instead of just sleeping here, all the things you described! We have a little forest with streams and vernal pools, connected to a rails-to-trails path, and most of the time when we "do something" together, it's right here at home!🤣
Our lives are a true gift, aren't they? Even though I'm at the top of a gorge and there's a creek and waterfall I hear 24/7 below my property, I can't get there from here, at least I haven't found a way yet that won't kill me. Dense undergrowth and a pretty steep incline. I was told there's a spring below my house and a neighbor, a former hydrologist, saw a "cavern" that was blocked by felled tree branches where he suspects the spring would be. Likely with snakes. But it's killing me I can't get to it because I'd love to have water somewhere on my ridge! Did you see my post about cutting a trail through a rhododendron thicket? https://marshastopa.substack.com/p/unexpected-lessons-navigating-a-rhododendron
How fascinating! I hope you find a way to the spring and the waterfall! You're quite resourceful, I wouldn't be surprised if you puzzle something out :) So far, we've found that many of our projects begin as an "I wish" idea that slowly turns in the backs of our minds for a long time before something falls into place to get it started. It often feels like nothing happens quickly around here, though we stay busy! 🤣
Thank you! I'm starting to realize those "wish" ideas that take a long time are just the way slow creativity works. I'm learning to work with that pace more.
It's not easy to slow down, honestly I still struggle with it, but so many of the things we work on in this lifestyle just do take a long time so it's not like we have a choice! :)
Goals!