Prior travel has convinced me that I don't believe I am cut out for the city life.
My husband and I both worked in the Capitol City of Missouri as State government employees for many years.
We previously resided on a 100 acres farm where my husband was born and raised.
He fulfilled his dream of building a 3 bedroom, two bath with country hearth fireplace home on a 25 acres parcel of the family farm acreage for us & our two children. The girls had the run of the place with their cats, dogs, birds, gerbils, crabs, fish, chickens, & horses complete with a riding arena.
Then of course being not far from the Lake Of The Ozarks, we bought temporary homes on wheels to enjoy during the summers.
We found our truck camper to be too small for growing girls so we bought a manageable 5th wheel.
However, as the years progressed we developed a shared dream of living life somewhere else...
First it would be trying a 3 bedroom, two bath with garage, Condo in Scottsdale, Arizona... Too Hot & Too Much City!
Then we bought & tried the City Life in Bakersfield California with a beautiful 4 bedroom, 2 bath, family room with fireplace rancher but it was just not for us either. Culture clash big time for my husband.
We determined our real dreams were actually the rural life near the smaller beautiful Missouri Pomme De Terre Lake... Where we luckily owned property allowing us boating & fishing at our fingertips.
Also, we could enjoying the sprawling meadows, flowing creeks & even few small waterfalls with the most scenic views.
Twenty-nine years ago we found the beginning 10 beautiful acres we dreamed of in rural Polk County, Missouri.
I designed and we built our own unique cabin with 2x6 walls, super X insulation and southern exposure. This would only cost $28k after the initial build ourselves. (It pays to build yourself or be your own contractor)
Now it's only the low monthy electric and taxes payments.
This five-bedroom cabin including basement & 1 car garage plus 3 car detached garage in the timber, would become our Paradise Cove.
Hence my moniker I often use is Paradise Cove Critter.
Then of course we could not stay idle. We found that we would make a short excursion to Nixa to babysit our granddaughter until she turned 5 years old and started school.
We were always gluttons for punishment so we added to our real estate and bought a small 3 bedroom-1 bath & garage to remodel... Later I would flip the house after my husband's passing.
(It was well worth the effort on the house. My only regret was not keeping it another couple of years. The housing prices had increased 50% since I sold it at what "I thought a great price!")
Now most mornings in my Paradise Cove cabin will starts around 6 a.m. when I'm awaken to the sound of birds flitting & singing in and out of the tall trees that surround me.
I can drive or motorcycle the 15 minutes to the nearest town, keeping an eye out for wildlife — the occasional turkey, possum, armadillo, fox, bobcat or deer will trot alongside or across the road. Often I see some in my own yard or in the adjoining fields.
I can spend my time enjoying nature from the front porch, basement patio or back deck.
However, most of the time I'm coming up with new DIY projects for myself.
A few weeks ago, I took a picnic & cold plunge with my feet into a watering stream on my property. It was a nice cool off from the 90 + degree heat.
However, lately my favorite Friday night activity is having a cold drink or making s'mores with the the neighbors around this little rural country home community.
The best part about living here is that I don't have to travel to campgrounds for a getaway to nature... I get to call one of the most beautiful places I know, my home!
On occasions I do enjoy traveling to see different historical places, different cultures & vista views within this great USA.
I love to meet other interesting people from all over the world.
The USA is just a giant melting pot.
"I have found that "Life" is this incredibly beautiful, fragile thing, and not taking life so seriously can help all of us appreciate it more."
No nose to the grindstone here.
So I'm Loving life Here In The Boonies But Also Seizing The Opportunity To Travel Off The Beaten Path When I Can!
My Door Is Always Open Or See You Along The Road...
Nana
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