Hi, All. I'm feeling pretty upbeat today and I feel like sharing about what's been happening.

Some of you may remember "gail-missouri ozarks" from CS forum; he went offline several months ago, in an attempt to cut back on expenses. (Also sold his car.) He has serious back problems, and has been struggling for a very long time. We've corresponded via letters and a few postcards, and e-mails before that. Gail helped me take the plunge and buy land down by him. I've never seen it, except through his eyes!! Funny how I KNOW him, even though we've never met. Anyway, I got a postcard today, and he's going to be back on line very soon. Things are looking up for him. (I feel ...... strange about what's happened at CS forum. That's the first place he'll go when he's back, and there's no familiar names. He'll be looking for this warm welcome, and it will be like walking into a room full of strangers. I'm sending a letter tomorrow, telling him to look here.)

I got my first property tax bill today. A whopping $2.90, I think I can swing that. Course there's nothing there but woods, but I have dreams of what it will be like some day. When I told my honey, Kevin, that I'd bought this place, I had no idea if he'd be receptive or not. I just knew I had to do it. At first, he was stunned. Broke up with me, actually. After about a week, he decided that it wasn't such a bad way to spend the rest of his life, and he's been happily/excitedly planning our move, and our new home that we'll build together. We're going for a week in October, and moving down next May. This might seem silly, but I'm already packing! I've been pressure canning soups, etc., as we may not have much in the way of a kitchen for some time. This seems to keep me sane. We plan on building the frames for walls and a roof, 12x12', and bringing them in the U-Haul with our other stuff. Pre-fab, sort of. We'll live in that while we build a real house; then it will house critters. There are no building restrictions there, other than you can't build less than 100' from property lines, and you can't live in a broken-down vehicle. (I guess that means an old school bus?!) I've gotten up at 4:00am every day for 15 months and delivered newspapers (and then gone to my real job) so I could pay off all my debts, and save cash for a well, etc. I truely think I'll be able to work part-time once we get on our land. Some days are tough, but I know that I'm doing the very best I can, and I'm definitly heading in the right direction. I can't wait to post real farm animal/fruit tree/grey water questions!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), July 16, 2001

Answers

Oh Cathy!!!I am thrilled for you!!!You will be an inspiration to many gonnabees here on the forum.We've been on our land since 92,you bring back good memories,congratulations!!!blessings and may your hens be good setters,your milk be plenty, and your bees mite free!!!!

-- teri (mrs_smurf2000@yahoo.ca), July 16, 2001.

Cathy Where on earth can you still buy land and build without zoning and permits.Sounds like a great place to live to me. I live on 118 ac. in sotheastern Indiana and have built 3 differnt buildings and had to get permits for each of them and they have raised my property tax each time. I think if I live on the property and build them myself it is nobodys concern but mine I do not build dumping looking buildings and they are for me I feel where I live now all my rights have been taken away. Indiana Country Friend Jack Bunyard

-- Jack Bunyard (bunyard@cnz.com), July 16, 2001.

Jack, this is southern Missouri. I get the local weekly paper mailed here, and I just learned that we'll be moving to the second-lowest per capita county in the state. I can live with that. I just want to be left alone!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), July 17, 2001.

Ooops, left out the word "income" per capita. In other words, poor in cash.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), July 17, 2001.

Cathy! It's great to hear from you. I've been wondering how things were. Please tell me that Texas county is lowest in per capita income! I looked at some property right down the road from Gail and your future home. It IS a lovely area and there seems to be a real sense of neighborliness there. The soil looks to be quite good even though the rock is not too far down, almost everyone has a spring, too. Several families don't have wells, only springs. The reason they don't have wells is financial and not because there isn't water. It is beautiful and I am sure that you will love it there. I close on 30 acres in Texas county Friday, so sometime down the road we will have to get together!

I wanted to swing by and say Hi to Gail, but we had appointments and it seemed like dropping in unannounced might not be too considerate, either!

You have some great ideas there and I really appreciate your determination and sacrifice. I remember when I was finally comprehending what I wanted to do, and picking the place and all...whew! Everyone that thought I was crazy for doing what I did to get herre, still thinks I am crazy for doing what I do....but none of them have a place paid off and are planning for a very busy "retirement" either! So I act like I'm in a foreign country when I talk to those that don't understand. I smile and nod a lot.

Jack, if you are seriously interested in property there, email me and I will give you the number for the people who are selling their place. It's a combo deal...69 acres house barn pond, or 27 acres, mostly fenced and mostly woods, or 13 1/2 acres mostly fenced mostly woods. They really need to sell and they are very nice folks as well!

-- Dreen (bisquit@here.com), July 17, 2001.

I'm so happy for you Cathy, best of luck with the BIG move!!!

Jack, here in our county, Monroe, population 12,000 folks, you can live in a cardboard box if you want to and have a outhouse if you like, or just use the woods, your choice! Property starts at $500 an acre and you can get a liveable house and 20 or so acres for around 40,000 dollars or less. Go to www.swisslands.com and take a closer look if you like.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), July 17, 2001.

Doreen, if I could have you and Gail as neighbors, I would consider myself very blessed, and I really mean that. I know the kind of person Gail is even though we've never met; he's kind, generous, loves animals and the outdoors, loves to tinker; Kevin is the sweetest, gentlest animal lover I know. I look forward to "looking after" them, does that sound crazy? Gail hasn't had running water in the 4 years he's been there, because of the expense. Kevin has decided that he'll do whatever is necessary to get a well drilled for Gail. How lucky am I? Who needs the movies, restaurants, fancy clothes, etc., when you have good folks in your life? Where is your property? I'd love to look on my map. I'm glad you said the area is so beautiful. I can't wait to see it for myself!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), July 17, 2001.

Cathy, It's good to hear from you. I'm glad to know that things are going well for you. I really admire you for what you're doing. Glad to hear that Gail is doing well also. I was thinking about him the other day. Hope he can get online soon and chat here.

-- Patti (trigger@montana.net), July 17, 2001.

Annie,

>P
-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), July 17, 2001.

Ge, I don't Know what to say for an answer. Sorry

-- Robbie Lynn Honea (rhonea@gateway.net), June 21, 2004.