Today we celebrate three years of living in this magnificent part of Colorado. Granted, this was not all a pleasant experience. In fact the first year and a half, from the time we decided to leave suburbia in Fort Collins until our home was completed here, were grueling. Some synonyms for grueling that describe my experience best:backbreaking, challenging, demanding, formidable, and sometimes hellacious. Building in rural areas is not for the meek, and building in mid-winter has its own challenges, but we lived through it and now we are happy as clams!
(Exactly how happy are clams anyway?)
We moved here for a number of reasons. To live close to nature, to try passive solar living, to build the kind of home we chose to live in for the rest of our lives, and to find a far more peaceful, healthy and less expensive lifestyle than cities can offer us. We received so much more!
The greatest gift for me is a sense of freedom and natural silence that I have never come close to in my previous life. I now live in the present, choosing each hour how I want to spend my day. I awaken to the birds singing with the sun pouring in, and go out to work in my fledgling garden of mostly native plants, most of which will be sunflowers blooming very soon!
Then, if I feel like visiting friends, I drive into La Veta on county roads with wildflowers popping up everywhere. Yes, the dining choices are slim here, just one of the “conveniences” you have to give up to live in the country. Luckily I’m a great cook and prefer to eat at home most of the time.
The hardest part for me was taking the original risk. Letting go of our nice home in suburbia was not easy, especially after seeing the one hundred year old miner’s house we would have to move into in Walsenburg for over a year.
I know we will face many more difficulties and much stormy weather up here, but at least we finally know where home is. For now, this is certainly where we belong…
9 thoughts on “Three Years Later in Rural Colorado…”
Thanks for sharing. So many of our friends are relocating these days. I’m sure they all experience some bumps along the way. Happy to see that you’ve adjusted so well.
I can’t believe it’s three years already. Soooo envious!
I always wondered about the clam thing, too. Then my friend told me the whole quote: Happy as a clam at high tide.
Oh. Maybe that makes a little more sense? Maybe . . .
You joker Diane! LOL! It seems like most of our sayings like that are ridiculous…works like a dog? I don’t know about yours, but mine just waits around all day for his treats!
We aren’t sure what we will do for retirement. Our neighborhood has flooded twice in the past 11 years and our house would need modifications for us to age in place. I applaud you for making the right decision – nothing like regret for a bad living situation (which we know about, from a decision we made in our thirties and left, five years later).
Alana: I for one know exactly how difficult these decisions can be! And taking risks which have no guarantees of happiness or success. I guess that’s part of the deal. We got lucky this time I guess…
Although taking risks can be daunting usually you achieve wonderful results. I’m in heaven just looking at the views in your photographs – suburbia can’t give you that! Enjoyed reading your post and pleased that you are enjoying your journey.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Thanks for sharing. So many of our friends are relocating these days. I’m sure they all experience some bumps along the way. Happy to see that you’ve adjusted so well.
LikeLike
To tell you the truth Camille, I never thought I’d be living like this. Surprise, surprise!
LikeLike
I can’t believe it’s three years already. Soooo envious!
I always wondered about the clam thing, too. Then my friend told me the whole quote: Happy as a clam at high tide.
Oh. Maybe that makes a little more sense? Maybe . . .
LikeLike
You joker Diane! LOL! It seems like most of our sayings like that are ridiculous…works like a dog? I don’t know about yours, but mine just waits around all day for his treats!
LikeLike
It looks just beautiful! My husband is from Colorado but this is a part I’ve never seen.
LikeLike
Most have not even noticed this area. It so remote from the rest of Colorado and so poor too!
LikeLike
We aren’t sure what we will do for retirement. Our neighborhood has flooded twice in the past 11 years and our house would need modifications for us to age in place. I applaud you for making the right decision – nothing like regret for a bad living situation (which we know about, from a decision we made in our thirties and left, five years later).
LikeLike
Alana: I for one know exactly how difficult these decisions can be! And taking risks which have no guarantees of happiness or success. I guess that’s part of the deal. We got lucky this time I guess…
LikeLike
Although taking risks can be daunting usually you achieve wonderful results. I’m in heaven just looking at the views in your photographs – suburbia can’t give you that! Enjoyed reading your post and pleased that you are enjoying your journey.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
LikeLike