To Live To Laugh To Love- I'm trying!

[ToLiveToLaugh]

Thanks you guys! And I really like that quote, peeper. In the town I live in a bunch of the old houses have quotes in their foundation. I've always thought it was so neat and personal.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

I don't think I've said it yet, so

You've put into words with your political & religious description what has escaped me for a while. Love that
And let me guess, you have a book for each area you find yourself in, right? One in the bathroom, one by the couch, one in the car for odd moments, and a pile by the bed

 

[ToLiveToLaugh]

Figured I would throw in an update, because I'm feeling rather lonely right now. It's been really hard for me coming to city life. Growing up I always had space and land and the patience of my parents. Living in town now, life feels a little surreal, kind of like when you watch movies. There is far less of a connection to the seasons. There is less fresh air. And there isn't any dirt under my nails, unless I make a point to put it there. I never realized how alive living "off the land" made me feel until I didn't have it any more.

Sorry to be a downer. It's been three years since I've had a garden or lived with my birds. I hardly ever get to go home, and even then, it isn't the same by any means. I guess it's just getting to me tonight. The best I've been able to do is save and plan for my "escape" lol. I've been very blessed financially, with my scholarship and all. Since the apartments are through the school, they're all really nice (and under the same billing!). This means all the money I make with work, and with odd jobs/projects on the side has been going in to savings and investments. I hope to be able to afford good land in the next 5 or 6 years. In the meantime, I guess I'm stuck. I'm stuck without even a window to grow things on. I tired one of those little aero garden things. Besides all the chemicals you have to add, the grow light kept me up. My apartment is all one room, so when it clicks on at 5 am, I NOTICED, lol!

Phew. Rant over! So sorry! Steam let off. Do you guys have any advice for me keeping my sanity? I can't even find a farm job through the university, since I don't qualify for work study! What the heck would ya'll do? Grin it and bear it? (Thanks for reading!)

 

[ToLiveToLaugh]

I don't think I've said it yet, so

You've put into words with your political & religious description what has escaped me for a while. Love that
And let me guess, you have a book for each area you find yourself in, right? One in the bathroom, one by the couch, one in the car for odd moments, and a pile by the bed

Yes I do! The one in the bathroom is perfectly placed between the toilet and bathtub (Not that there's much room in between!) I take it you're a fellow book worm?

 

[Blackbird]

=\

Best I can do is offer a hug! I'm usually good for that.


I'm sure soon enough I'll know exactly how you feel - and I won't like it!

 

[hikerchick]

Your journal is place where you can rant and whine and nobody will tell you that you are being a baby. We will all just offer hugs and some will say - I have been there.

I lived in the city all my life and finally -at 45 - got a house in the country with goats and chickens, etc. Now, 7 years later, I am on my way back to the city. (not exactly my choice).

So I think what you are doing is so, so wise for someone so young. You know what you want and you are working and saving towards it. You won' t regret the time you spend in college once you are financially secure and living your dream life. And you will, I know you will. You have what it takes.

I know the times drags slowly and it's painful missing what you love, but you will get there and it will be glorious.

 

[Farmfresh]

Figured I would throw in an update, because I'm feeling rather lonely right now. It's been really hard for me coming to city life. Growing up I always had space and land and the patience of my parents. They didn't care when I added an extra 80 feet to the garden and planted stuff they'd never heard of. They patiently tried it, and we hid it in soups and fed it to the chickens when we couldn't palate it. Living in town now, life feels a little surreal, kind of like when you watch movies. There is far less of a connection to the seasons. There is less fresh air. And there isn't any dirt under my nails, unless I make a point to put it there. I never realized how alive living "off the land" made me feel until I didn't have it any more.

Sorry to be a downer. It's been three years since I've had a garden or lived with my birds. I hardly ever get to go home, and even then, it isn't the same by any means. I guess it's just getting to me tonight. The best I've been able to do is save and plan for my "escape" lol. I've been very blessed financially, with my scholarship and all. The overage pays for much of my rent, and since the apartments are through the school, they're all really nice (and under the same billing!). This means all the money I make with work, and with odd jobs/projects on the side has been going in to savings and investments. I hope to be able to afford good land in the next 5 or 6 years. In the meantime, I guess I'm stuck. Without the overage for the rent, I can't afford much of anything for housing. So I'm stuck without even a window to grow things on. I tired one of those little aero garden things. Besides all the chemicals you have to add, the grow light kept me up. My apartment is all one room, so when it clicks on at 5 am, I NOTICED, lol!

Phew. Rant over! So sorry! Steam let off. Do you guys have any advice for me keeping my sanity? I can't even find a farm job through the university, since I don't qualify for work study! What the heck would ya'll do? Grin it and bear it? (Thanks for reading!)

Been THERE and I feel your pain. I was "raised" like a wild child on a small acreage in the burbs. I always had the out of doors, horses, chickens, gardens and trees. When I first got married (way back in B.C.!) we lived in a tiny one bedroom townhouse. Even with the 4' wide strip garden I planted on one side I thought I was going to lose my mind!

Now is the time to hone those indoor SS skills. Learn to knit, crochet, sew, carve, soap, weave, cook and can! Gives your poor country brain something to think about while trapped in the city apartment. Like hikerchick said - study hard, it will be worth it eventually you can have what you really want and need.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Yes I do! The one in the bathroom is perfectly placed between the toilet and bathtub (Not that there's much room in between!) I take it you're a fellow book worm?

Oh, yes. At least three going at once, usually more. Right now it's Lasagna Gardens for Containers, The Complete Soapmaker again, Backyard Homestead again and Stephen Kings latest, Under The Dome (Very good!)

Have you checked with your leaseholder to see if you could put something, anything on a tiny plot of grass? Is there any grass at all, I guess would be the first question. If you start a small lasagna bed now (or a couple of containers!), it will be ready for a couple of herbs, a tomato plant or some pretty lettuces.

Maybe check to see if there is a community garden spot in town? Can you guerrilla garden? Find an overgrown plot, clear a small space & plant something. I'm fascinated by city dwellers who forage & garden in abandoned lots.

 

[pioneergirl]

I wanted to say welcome to SS....although I'm late! haha

I think most all of us have experienced your situation in some form or fashion, to some degree. You'll get tons of ideas/advice to choose from here. I find myself on here just reading, and going "oh yeah! Now THAT is a great idea!"

I'll say that a couple years ago I caught a case of Cabin Fever. DH was a truck driver then, and would be gone for weeks at a time. Here I was, in this house alone, in the country during the harsh winter months. I decided to try my hand at quilting. I didn't know a thing about it, and got some scraps and hand sewed a lap quilt. Took me a couple months, but it engaged my brain enough that I didn't think about how crappy the weather was, or how rude people can be, or whatever. I just stitched away.

Now it seems, whoever comes by to visit, (when we're home) pulls that quilt off the couch and throws it across their lap, not even thinking. Its really cool!

Anyway, just an idea....you could even stitch on some chicken apliques (sp) or whatever you like!

 

[modern_pioneer]

Welcome Emily...

I know your feeling there, I spent 21 years trying to get back to the country life. So I can tell ya first hand I understand your feelings. But it is what it is right now, and it won't be forever like you already said, putting away for your own piece of mother earth in the future.