I know that there are some family members on here, but wondering how many of you live close to friends with the same interests. I have a couple of friends who live simply or are trying to simplify, but they don't live close. I (and my DH) would love to move to his hometown and live on the farm with his parents and brother's family. Right now, he is happy with his job, so I don't see us moving any time soon. We have thought about moving and letting him drive, but it would be an hour plus each way and that's 2-3 hours a day that he could spend with me and the boys. Anyway, just wandering. I would love to have someone close to garden, can and do animal stuff with.

-- Ivy in NW AR (balch84@cox-internet.com), October 25, 2001

Answers

I am so lucky to live within a 25 mile radius of 98% of my family(and we have a large family!).But I didn't say they think like me.No, I am one of two in my family and sometimes feel loney.Everyone thinks I am just going through a stage due to love gone bad and being a single mother.They think that one day soon I'll snap out of "Mayberry Land" and return to the "NORMAL" rat race.My parents put up with my frugalness and ideas first because I really do get results and help quite a bit and second because they love me. I would really like to live by someone who likes to do the things I do but until I find them you guys will just have to put up with my ramblings!

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), October 25, 2001.

The farmer who owns the orchard where we picked apples very happily showed us around. He pointed out the section of land they started with and called it their "pioneer corner", telling us how they were able to live off that one section with a pig, chickens, and garden. Now he's someone we'd like to get with. Lives about 3 miles down the road, and has invited us back.

Other than him, our friends include town folk with postage stamp size yards, or country folk who can't do anything without a tractor. One of my town friends (Jillian's mother) is extremely frugal, and Jillian herself is learning some things. I have learned a few things from her myself.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 26, 2001.

I am the odd one around here, none of my family or friends (beside dh) are interested in "homesteading" type activities, being frugal or anything of that nature. I've apparently taught my daughters enough that they have at least a minimal emergency food stash, pay their bills on time and try hard to stay out of debt of any sort (other than mortgage) but as for sharing my lifestyle, no. My oldest daughter, who lives in town, did start a small garden last summer, and talked her dh into letting us raise a hog for them, so maybe there is hope yet. :) But being truly frugal seems to be a matter of convenience - when money is tight they cut back and ask for advice on cutting expenses, cooking economically etc., but as soon as things let up a bit, it's back to the "normal" way of life.

My friends are all the same. I'm sure everyone is convinced I'm weird. ("Why do you waste your time washing sandwich bags?! Why raise meat or milk goats when you can just go to the store?!") Hmmm, maybe I AM weird! Anyway, all the homesteaders on the different forums are my friends and inspiration. I appreciate you all. (Actually, there is a nice lady, Julie, in a nearby town, who I met on the internet, who shares the homesteading mentality, but we're not quite close enough to really be considered neighbors.)

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), October 26, 2001.

I live in south central Mo. All my family is in Calif and my husbands is in NJ. When he retired from the Marine Corp he said ok I have draged you all over now its your turn to pick us out a place to live, just make sure the winters are mild. HE Hates the cold weather. I liked the prices here and we could live on the retirement if he could not find work so to Missouri we went in 1993. I love it here!! We have a house in town. and 9 acres in the country. I had told my husband I did not want a dimond ring when we first got together but that in 10 years I was going to ask him for a really nice ring. Well ten years came and I found the 9 acres and told him I wanted it in place of the ring. LOL he said ok and that is how we got the c3ranch. Cut, Clarity, and Color. LOL He is not entrested in homsteading and I love getting my hands in the dirt. So We live in a town of 2000 people and the ranch is 5 miles from the house and we go out there and play around on the weekends. At least he understands I would rather spend 20$ on seeds than make-up and I would rather spend 10 min early in the morning rushing to get dressed for a auction than getting all dolled up to go to dinner and a movie. LOL Yes my family thinks I am such a tom-boy. When they come to visit it takes my mom and sis 2 hrs just to get dressed and their make up on to go to wal- mart LOL. My husband loves that I ask for power tools for christmas and that I will put up sheetrock myself or replace the kitchen fosust myself and not call a plummer. My dad was here in July and we had taken a country ride half a day. When we stoped in town before going home the tire on the car went flat. He said where is there a phone to call triple A. LOL I told him if god let me get into town on the blacktop and a level surface I could change it myself. He was dumbfounded. Took me 10 min. I told him I like being able to take care of myself. He said you could have at lease called your husband to come down and change it for you. He just dosen't get it. Lucky I married a man who lets me be me and understands. He even watched the dogs for me one time when I took my son to Sulfur La. fishing for a week. I just love the country.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), October 26, 2001.