Introduction/Good News/Thank you!

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Hello all!

I have been lurking here since the winter and have not introduced myself. I am Kelly in Ohio, wife to Mark and stay at home/home schooling mom to four sons, Joshua (21), Caleb (16), Seth (9) and Micah (7). I have been longing for the woods all of my life, but especially feeling called to escape the city the past three years. We started looking for land exactly one year ago. I am thrilled beyond belief that we have found our land as of yesterday.

We have looked and looked, found land we could afford and hated, found land we loved and couldn’t afford, found land we loved and could afford and then the seller changed his mind about selling family land, but… WE HAVE NOW FOUND LAND, we can afford it, we love it and the seller is really selling it! YAHOO!

We are buying 25 acres of woods in southern Ohio, Gallia County, close to the Ohio River (anyone from around there?). We have nothing but woods, a couple of small springs, a creek across the road and wild critters… no well, no septic, no drive. I am still in the “I can’t believe our dreams are coming true and THANK YOU GOD” mode and am getting ready to go into the “YIKES! We have to clear a space to pitch a tent, and when will we be able to afford the driveway so someone can dig a well and how soon will we be able to pay off the balance on the land so we can build and permanently move” mode. I am actually trying to savor the feeling of the first mode, but feel the second one a comin’!

We close on our land at noon tomorrow and I am trying to contain myself, but had to tell someone. Since I knew that I would be coming here to the countryside forum for help, I thought I would share my new with you all first. Plus, with some of our family and friends thinking we are NUTS, I wanted to share first with like spirited people who would be as excited as we are!

I have a gazillion questions that I am going to have to sift through in my mind and gradually ask, so don’t be surprised if I post some soon when I sift into my second mode! For now I just wanted to introduce myself, say hello, and share my news with the people I have gleaned so much information and affirmations that we are not crazy from.

Finally, I would like to thank you all as I truly mean that last sentence. I have read so much practical advice and have been given so much support (even though you all didn’t know it) and such inspiration to follow my heart’s longing… all while I was lurking daily and relaying to my husband that are others doing life the way we want to do it!

Thank You! Kelly longing to live in the woods and blessed that my dreams are becoming reality!

-- Kelly longing to live in the woods... (kmyers01@commkey.net), April 23, 2001

Answers

hi kelly glad to see you get your land. If you need help here is the place to get it from. These people are so kind and helpful on all kinds of subjects. just wanted to say congrants on your land.

-- myra gail akins (dakins@cottoninternet.net), April 23, 2001.

Welcome, Kelly, Congratulations on making your dream come true and NO!!You are not nuts! I don't live in Ohio, but visited there about 10 years ago. Beautiful place. You really have your work cut out for you, but it will all be worth it. I'm so excited for you and your family. The good people at this forum are the best. Welcome to the club.

Thanks for reading.

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), April 23, 2001.


Congratulations! It is exciting and nervewracking at the same time to make that big move. We are about 60 -70 miles from Gallia Co., in Washington Co., Ohio. It is a pretty area and a good place to homestead.

What city are you relocating from? From your new location, Athens would probably be the closest big town. But I am not too fond of doing business there, as I have consistently found prices to be higher there and have run into a lot of "attitude". Probably has to do with being a university town. Depending on which side of Gallia you're on, you may find Parkersburg, WV, to be your best bet for civilization when you need something you can't get locally. It really isn't that big of a place, but is the third largest city in WV.

If you're going to be camping in the woods while building your dwelling, watch out for ticks. We have seen a few up here already this year. And when you need a break, check out the neat herb farm in central Meigs Co. I think they are now nationally known for their preservation programs of endangered, overharvested herbs and their educational classes.

This is really a fun area to be. If you need any more specific info that you think I might be able to provide, email me and I'll do what I can.

Best wishes!

-- Lori in SE Ohio (klnprice@yahoo.com), April 23, 2001.


CONGRATULATIONS KELLY !!!

At last ! I know how you feel. It took us 2 years to locate our land. We've been here 5 years now. We did it the easy way, had a house built first, but have done the rest ourselves. I really admire those, like yourselves, who "tent it". If we ever re-locate we might like to try doing it ALL ourselves the next time. My DH has always been the handy type but believe me we still have learned a lot. Do you know what kind of house you're going to build yet? I wish you the best of luck, you will have good times and bad but you'll love every minute of it. Don't hesitate to share your progress with us.

-- cindy (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), April 24, 2001.


Whoops! My writing was not clear and I have been misleading. Sorry!

We will NOT be living in a tent while we build. Goodness, unfortunately, I do not think I have that much tenacity! Our properity is about two and a half hours from where we live now, in Springfield ,Ohio~ it is located in Mercerville, Gallopolis(sp?) being the nearest "big" town, and we will be tenting it on the weekends and whenever we can get away from here, to do some work and enjoy the property.

We will be taking the next two years to pay off the land and plan the building of our home on our new land.

I have only seen the pictures of the land (just couldn't go to look at this property, but dh KNEW what I wanted ~ we looked at a zillion properties), so I will be leaving on Friday to go walk and camp on the land, see where we will be putting the drive and maybe decide where the house will go. I am so excited I can't stand it anymore!

Thanks to all for the welcomes and advice!

Kelly~ who gets to see her new land on Friday! YAHOO!

-- Kelly longing to live in the woods... (kmyers01@commkey.net), April 24, 2001.



Welcome Kelly! I'm very happy for you and your family, it's exciting having all those plans. I don't think any of us ever really stops having questions either, we all just keep learning as we go. You aren't too far from us, we are only an hour down from Louisville. I have people come from Ohio to get pups often. Keep us posted on your closing today, and we'll be looking forward to hearing all about the campout! Take your camera! And some paper and pencils to draw out the property, that's always so fun to plan with.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), April 24, 2001.

Dear Longing to Live in the WOODS: Congrats, and welcome to the family. Sounds like a beautiful piece of property,(river,fishing,gardens, chickens,walks,) where will you find the time? Best of luck in all your endeavors.

-- sherrie in wa. (sdunkling@aol.com), April 26, 2001.

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