Retirement may suggest lifestyle change for some, but how many are willing to take on any real risks at age 60? Enter Mike and I, the quiet revolutionaries. Four years ago this month, we drove down to southern Colorado to purchase a few rural acres of pinon-juniper woodland west of Walsenburg. Mike’s dream had always been to construct his own passive solar home with amazing mountain views. This was our chance to make that dream come true!
In June 2014 we packed up or got rid of most of our worldly goods, sold our nice home in suburban Fort Collins, and took off to live in a 100-year-old rental home in Walsenburg, while constructing a new life twenty minutes west of there. Crowning ourselves the “NEW Old Farts,” I began sharing this retirement adventure with the world in October 2014.
Although my husband was a true believer from day one, this all felt like a gigantic leap-of-faith for me. With housing prices rising quickly in the metro areas of northern Colorado, I saw little chance of changing our minds later to return to the city if this didn’t work out. So I made myself believe in my relatively new husband’s vision, and you know what? He was right.
Three and a half years later, after too many doubts and incredible challenges to my idea of who I am and where I belong, I am now quite content in our country solar home looking out each morning at the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. My days are filled with supreme quiet and astounding beauty. I have also found a few good friends, a yoga class I like, and all the books I wish to read and movies I wish to view through the La Veta Public Library.
The view from our new solar home!
Adventures of the NEW Old Farts 
Sounds like a dream. You are very fortunate.
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Yes Mary, finally a good dream!
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Wow!
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Beautiful photos, especially the last one. My journey was a little different – from New York City to a couple of other, smaller cities (Tampa, and some places we had to live in because my spouse had joined the military)and finally to rural Arkansas. We ended up going back to New York State but I agree with a lot of your observations about rural living. It’s peaceful, your mind slows down, and you can quite adequately entertain yourself by watching nature and the world around you.
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Very well said Alana. Especially as we age we prefer to relax and stop thinking so much!
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Wow. What a beautiful view you have! It sounds like you have everything you need right at your fingertips!
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I guess that depends on what you think you need. No shopping and few decent restaurants, but we have plenty of quiet, safety and privacy!
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Quiet, safety and privacy are important! I’m not a huge shopper, but I do like a good restaurant or two. I actually prefer, though, that one good restaurant/bar combo that we are considered regulars at.
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What an astounding view you have! You made a great decision and I bet the solar panels save you tons of money. We get eaten up alive with rent and utilities where I live, although I’m a city type of person. I bet you’re enjoying it big time.
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No Rebecca, our home is PASSIVE solar. That means no panels or anything like that. Just the proper foundation, glass, overhangs, insulation and positioning of the house to keep warm without a furnace… quite a deal when you can pull it off!
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Good for you Laura Lee. I’ve shared on my ST60 & Beyond Facebook page. I love seeing people taking a chance and following their dream. Happy New Year to you both. x
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And to you too 🙂
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I love how your love of the place you moved to shines through in everything you post.
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Happy to make you happy girl!
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