Life in the country... how we all think we would like it. But having
been brought up in the city of New Orleans, the only time I spent in the country was at my uncle's farm in Mississippi when I was a kid. Every summer for a few years, I got to spend a week at their place. I loved it! Horses, cows, chickens, etc! Since I loved animals, it was heaven for me. I also got to swim in a creek, plant crops in a field, and ride horses! These were not things ordinarily done in the city.
When I was growing up, we lived right off of Canal Street in N.O. and had access to St. Anthony's School and Church, a corner grocery right next store, and a street car line just 2 blocks away. The street car took us to downtown shopping as well as the French Quarter and the Mississippi River. It was convenient... but not the country.
Now my daughter and her family have a few acres in the Hill Country of Texas. They also have horses, no cows at the moment, dogs, cats, alpaca at one time, and chickens. But last week she called to tell me that they found a bat inside the house on the staircase one morning and 2 goats of unknown origin in their vegetable garden. So... life in the country does have it's oddities.
Here in Texas DH and I live in a subdivision outside of the city of Dallas. It offers a bit of the country life (just a bit) by being on a creek and greenback - which we are privileged to share with Texas wild-life. While some in the area would do without even this, we consider it a benefit. It does require a little patience and kindness... and some compromise, but we think it's worth it.
And there's a horse stables a few blocks down where our daughter used to board her horse when she was younger. AND... down the road there are cows and several community gardens. So we have what you might call a pseudo-country life style.
If I had my druthers (and unlimited income) I'd spend my winters in Texas (winters are generally mild and short) and my summers around Damariscotta, Maine where I'd have access to Audubon's private beach in the area. I'd also visit Oregon's beaches and Vancouver Island, and see the New England in the Fall, and perhaps visit Quebec, Canada. But life is short (and getting shorter all the time), so I don't really need a bucket list. I'm happy as things are... and consider it a boon when something good unexpectedly happens.
My oldest son called the other day to check on how I was doing after my cataract surgery, daughter called this morning to tell me she thinks one of their horses is lame, and youngest son and his family went to dinner with us last night for his wife's birthday. We came home for dessert - connolis from Carlo's Bakery ("The Cake Boss Guy"). They are so-oo good.
Ordinary things... ordinary life. Am I grateful? Definitely yes! And
I enjoy sharing it with those of you who may be reading. Just as I enjoy reading about your lives... some ordinary, some not so much.
Even if I don't get to see or do some things, I get to share the experiences through your pictures and words.
How great is that!!
Oh, and Tux says Hi!
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As much as I dream of (fantasy) country living, at this time in my life I don't think the reality would be as lovely or as easy as the fantasy. However, I love your pseudo-country life! Near enough that you're connected and have all the amenities at hand, yet with green space and some privacy. I'd take that in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteQuebec IS a lovely province, and if anyone reading this ever plans to make a trip, just one trip, visit the Gaspé coast. The most gorgeous part of Canada I've ever seen, and I grew up there decades ago. The rocky coastline, the ocean, the mountains - the area has it all. The York River ran behind our house and I spent many hours playing down there by myself or with our dog. God's country for sure. :-)
Have a wonder-full week! :-)
Kim, I will definitely check out the Gaspe coast. Rocky coastlines and quiet coves get to me. Sounds like a wonderful place to have spent your childhood.
DeleteRural living so close to Dallas is something to be grateful for, for sure. I'm with you, enjoying what I have and thinking about what I might do with unlimited income (spend more time in the winter in Florida with my sister), but for now I'm happy with the life I've got. And your life is fun for me to read about and enjoy. :-)
ReplyDeleteSpending time with family is always good... and maybe even more so as we age. And reading about how others spend their time is pretty good too, DJan.
DeleteI have lived in some pretty rural setting and in small cities. At this point in my life, being in a more urban setting suits me. Well,I think it always did actually. But I loved visiting the open territory in the western states.
ReplyDeleteOlga, you spend time in 2 wonderful places, Vermont and Florida... so I think you found what suits you.
DeleteI'm with you Rian, I enjoy reading about the lives of others, especially women's stories or as a university prof titled them "herstory". What mean seem mundane to the individual is interesting to readers, as we get to see life from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteI had never of Damariscotta, Maine until recently. I bought a book by Douglas Kennedy titled 5 Days, and the story is of woman from this community who travels to Boston for a weekend conference, meets a man and shares time with him. Both are married, somewhat unhappily, and while I am only half way through the book I suspect they will go back to their regular lives with different points of view. We'll see if I'm correct.
As for the country I grew up on a farm, lived in a very small community for a period of time, but have been in the city for many, many years. I don't miss the work required to maintain a farm so I'm happy to be where I am. Of course, this city is small...less than 200,000 people...and I don't think I"d be happy in a larger center.
Have a great week!
Eileen, I only spent a week in Damariscotta... on my own in 2000. But I fell in love with the place. I haven't heard of the book you mentioned, but I may check it out.
DeleteAs for the country, I enjoyed my uncle's farm, but have never actually lived and worked on one. Now, at my age, I think that although I love spending time in the country, perhaps my life is here.
Large cities appealed to my nature when I was young and loved the excitement and entertainment of the city. However as a child I spent a lot of time in the country and that is my first love that I eventually migrated back to. Now days, I am compromising. I live on a major highway only ten minutes from town but I have cows and horses across the fence in my back yard and a different herd across the highway to the front. Of course the town I mentioned has only 2500 citizens and big doings there amounts to hootenannies on the week end.
ReplyDeleteLike you though, Maine in the summer sounds wonderful.
Large cities have never appealed to me, but somehow I have always lived in or near one. I do like the quiet countryside where one can walk among trees or along beaches. We did have both Lake Pontchatrain as well as the Mississippi River in New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast was just about an hour away - so walking by the water was a plus.
DeleteI grew up in So. California but spent about 18 years in the Gold Rush country of the northern part of the state. We moved to Gillespie Co., TX, about twenty years ago and lived in a homestead built in the late 1800's on about 80 acres just outside of the very tiny town of Doss for 11 years. In 2012 we moved into the "big" town of Fredericksburg, but we're on the outskirts so we get deer, skunks and other critters. I thought it would be hard to make the transition from 30+ years in the country to city living, but it was surprisingly easy. I love being able to get anywhere in town in about 10 minutes, but still retain the ability to see ranch land with cows and horses grazing just around the corner. (P.S.--Came here by way of Knatolee's World. She never ceases to amaze me with all her animal friends!)
ReplyDeleteI really like the area around Fredericksburg. We visit there occasionally when in the Hill country. Stayed at The Herb Farm and shopped on the main strip. Loved the Pie Shop! That area is probably the best of both worlds.
DeleteAnd yes, Knatolee's World is wonderful. Their place for rescues is amazing.