Little Steps

     As we walk this path toward a simpler life, it seems we must first deal with a few things that are quite complex.  We have been living with family for about four years now; we pay a large portion of bills here; we have a little girl who will turn one next month; we are both thirty this year, and (fingers crossed) we are about to buy a house!
     This is a major mile stone in our lives.  It has come a little later for us than for most, maybe, but finally it has come.  We should be celebrating!  And in a sense we are.  However, due to the great complications of all things family, it seems more like we are pulling the plug out and watching everything go down the drain.  This is not going to be an easy transition; BUT, though I am a bit nervous, I am much more excited :D
     It is kind of hard to leave behind all of the good work we've done to this land in these last four years, but I can't help but fantasize what it will mean to start fresh.  AND have total. control.  Don't get me wrong,  I feel more than fortunate that we have had family that we could coexist with for this long without blowing the lid off-haha!  Considering the degree to which we are all a bit dysfunctional, it has been nothing short of a miracle.  But since Flora has come along it feels much more important, even imperative, that we be in an environment where we don't have to compromise with others in our household.  I feel like it will be a much more stable environment for her if her parents are more in control-makes sense, right?
     I am holding tight to the hope that this house will soon be ours.  It is too perfect for our situation.  It puts us close to family, it has 1.5 acres of land-most of which is wild wood (woohoo!!!!), and it is something that is affordable for us.  It is not in the most perfect condition as it was built in 1930, but it is structurally sound.  Ever since the idea of having a sustainable mini farm/food forest has become our priority, we have said that when we look for our own place the land will be much more important than the house anyway.
     Ever since we found this place, nothing else has compared for us.  It was as if the moment I stepped out of the car and took a look around it already belonged to me; I could see us living there.  At first we didn't want to rush headlong into things, but it eventually turned into not wanting to miss this opportunity.  In fact, when we first started looking, we didn't think we'd be making a decision this soon.
     It won't be easy at first.  We will be going into this place without a lot of furniture-which, oddly enough, almost seems appealing.  We will have many years of work ahead of us to make this place into what we really want.  But you know what?  It will be OURS.  Saying it won't be easy doesn't just apply to us.  We live in a household where we are a big part of the financial foundation.  I have no clue how they are going to make this work without us, but I have to hope for the best.  Flora's tree we planted on top of her placenta is here.  I don't want to see this place go to the bank or roll over into someone else's hands.
     I hate that it almost feels selfish to be so excited about this, but I think there comes a time in your life where you have to make decisions that put you-and especially your child(ren)-first.  So that is what we are trying to do.  Things will never get less complicated in our current residence.  We have to take those steps.  OH!  Just THINK!!  We will finally be able to have chickens!  So, yeah, I think the pros far outweigh the cons.  So send positive energy our way guys!