Rebecca's journal-may be time to restart this

[rebecca100]

yes!!! fil raises chickens and just got rid of his rabbits. This place while small is in the same area. It is one acre, but people kept a horse there. It is owned by is uncles ex-wife's sister.

 

[Dace]

Sending up prayers for you girl!

It sounds as if God is already sending a pretty clear message to you!

 

[rebecca100]

I'm back home!!!!! So much for an eight hour trip. It took 11 hours down and nine and a half back. The trip went good and the new car did GREAT. It made around 30 mpg there and back. Comared to 6 our old truck made it was fantastic. The trip only cost us about $70 all together and in the old truck when we planned on going before we figured it would cost closer to $350! Anyway, apparently the place for sale isn't his uncles ex-wife's sister. His uncle and she are back together, but they aren't speaking to the rest of his family. Apparently that is farily common for the whole family who lives within a couple miles of each other to get into huge feuds. MIL warned that getting that place would put us in a bad position to be in the middle and she said it would be best to look around for something different in the same area. They don't even own the land that they live on, it is family land and they are wanting to move, too. So she is down there looking of acreage that we can both get and still be in the same area.
I have never lived in any states other than Ariz. as a child and Ar the rest of the time and I am a little nervous about moving to South Louisiana, but dh was there when my dad was sick and I can't stand in the way of him being with his dad whose health is failing. We will have to sell one of our places to have the money to pay our loans here and still have enough for a down payment on land and to have a mobile home set up. We have a beautiful 10 acres in the middle of nowhere that is completely set up for a mobile home or house, with a beautiful view and bluffs in the back and very few neighbors and we have already had offers on it. We also have 1 acre with a mobile home where I grew up with stores all around good soil and fruit trees and roses. I don't want to get rid of either, so I am really at a loss about what to do. We plan on keeping one so we can come back if it doesn't work out down there. I have prayed about it and so far no answer has made itself obvious. I guess the sensible thing to do would be to sell the 10 acres and rent the mobile home, but I don't always do the sensible thing. And I really want to keep the 10 acres and I don't really want to one acre, other than for sentamental reasons. Someone tell me what to do. Dh says it is my choice.

BTW we will be moving to zone 9!!!! I will be able to grow citrus, figs and artichokes!!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

If it were me - I'd keep the 10 acres. There's so much you can do with 10 acres that you cannot do with 1. 10 acres is enough land to have an orchard, a small pasture field to raise a few head of beef, a couple sheep, a couple goats - and you'd have enough space for a pig lot if you were up to raising a couple pigs for slaughter. If you wanted free ranged poultry, 10 acres gives a lot more space for that as well.

On the other hand, on 1 acre you can still have a chicken yard, garden, small orchard, raise rabbits, keep bees, use 1/2 the acre for a milk or a couple sheep, and I'm sure there's more. I just can't think right now.

So it's really a matter of what do you want to be able to do with the land if you should come back?

We thought we were farming just over 7 acres here, but when they did our survey a couple years ago and measured it all out, turns out we have 9 acres. We are raising chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, 2 rabbits, and 4 cattle on our 9 acres - not counting the 2 acres we've acquired across the road. I'm working on adding a goat, and I'm hopeful to eventually add bees.

So I'd really sit down and discuss with your DH about what you'd want to use the land for if you did come back, and what scale would you want to do it at?

 

[Ldychef2k]

I have no advice, other that spiritual. Sometimes the Lord asks us to do the nonsensical thing, so be on the lookout !

 

[Wifezilla]

Don't sell land. Ever.

I broke this rule 10 years ago and have regretted it ever since.

Lease it, get a management company if it is too much of a hassle to watch it yourself, but do not sell.

 

[rebecca100]

We definately dont want to sell any of it. The acre is near a marina and a resort and I know the value can only go up, but I honestly don't know how to get the money without selling one or the other.

edited for spelling

 

[Wifezilla]

Is there anyway else to come up with a down payment? Garage sales? Start leasing the property now? Sell a kidney? (JK on that last one )

 

[TanksHill]

Ok so I feel kind of awkward and like it is not really my place but since you asked...

Do you really need to move? How sick is your fil? Would a few visits in the economical new car be doable? Not sure what your dh does for work but could he go there for extended visits then come back home?

It just does not seem wise to sell what you have now and move into the middle of a family who can't stand each other and are fighting. Not to mention end up living on land that would not probably ever be yours.

You said before that you wish his parents could come to visit you instead. Would they ever consider moving closer to you? Perhaps on the ten acres, or in your childhood home?

Just a few ideas.

I think you need to have a heart to heart with your dh. See what he wants to do. Then think it over some more.

g

 

[rebecca100]

Thanks, what you asks makes sense and I have wondering the same thing about visiting. Fil had back surgery and can barely get around and dh hadn't seen either of his parents in over a year, and the rest of his family in several years. They won't move. I have tried to convince them and even offered the 10 acres, but they can't deal with the cold they said. His dad has gotten so skinny it is scary and drinks ensure to make sure he gets nutrition since he barely eats. I have serious doubts about living close to them since I have seen how their fighting can get and that is why I demand that we buy our own place down there so we won't be "under their thumb" if you know what I mean. Dh says he really wants to go and be with his family again and his cousin has already offered him a full time job with him paying $12 which is as much as he makes here. They come here and visit about once a year or two. I feel that we are very lucky to have two pieces of land and that perhaps I should just get over it and sell one. Maybe I am being greedy trying to keep them both, but I definately don't want to stand in the way of dh and his family. I remember the regrets I had when my mom and dad died and I don't want him to have the same ones I did. And they were CRYING when we left and fil wouldn't get out of the car to let us go. I keep having the feeling that the Lord IS telling me what to do and I just am tuning him out! Anyway we have a realtor coming by Thurs. to look at both places and see which would sell for more.