I met a lady the other day who noticed the Washington state plates on my car. She asked where I was from, and why we had moved to New England. And for the first time, I think I was able to {coherently} put my finger on it.
It feels different here out in the country. More real. More in touch with the real world…. in the sense of how, I guess, real life should be lived. There is no 24/7 ANYTHING. The post office? It’s tiny. And when the one person window is closed, the doors to the building are locked and you know what? They’ll be open tomorrow, and you can come back and do your business then.
Our small country store is in a really old building, and the selection isn’t incredibly huge, but it pretty much has most of what you’d need to tide you over until your next stock up trip to a larger town. And heck, if they don’t carry something you’d like, you can make a special request, and they’ll order it for you.
True, I could probably just order the same thing off Amazon and have it on my porch in 2 days, but it’s nice to know exactly where my money is going. To actually be able to hand my 4 dollars over the counter and know that 2 of those dollars, is helping a mom and pop shop to employ a few people in the community I live in. When you live in a big city, or shop major retailers, you just don’t get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Or at least, I never did.
So many things in our lives nowadays are just so instantaneous. With exception to the occasional big ticket item, the whole waiting, or longing for something is kind of gone from our lives. When you can pretty much get anything you want at the click of a button, or from a big box store that carries a dozen of an item, something personal is lost in the process. Do you know what I mean? Do you feel like special occasions, have stopped being so special? Do you think it’s because we’re getting older and nostalgic for simple the things we loved so much growing up?
I finally feel calm inside and at peace. I don’t know if it’s because I’m past that stage in my life where {nearly} everything I do revolves around my children and I feel the constant need to be on the go, or if I’m finally in the {physical} place I knew I always belonged.
The “noise” and distractions of basically meaningless things, is gone. These days, there is music occasionally playing in the next room, the birds are chirping outside and the frogs are singing a tune from our pond. We can even hear wild turkey’s chattering on occasion in the distance when we’re outside. I’d also be the first person to bet $10 that someone within a half mile distance of us has a bunch guinea fowl. Note to self: Never buy Guinea fowl.
I am working harder {physically} than I have in a very long time, and you know what? I am IN LOVE with this feeling of contentment.
Do you want to know what else I’m in love with at the moment? Our local recycling center. We don’t have to pay for trash service here, because included in our property taxes, is the opportunity to dispose of our trash {and recyclables} at our local transfer station. If you want to pay for curbside pick up, there’s a company you can call, but c’mon now, why would we voluntarily pay for something we could take advantage of for free? The place is only open a few hours a week and oddly enough, it’s quite the community hot spot.
And you want to know the best part about the transfer station? Not only can you drop off your trash, and recyclables, but you can also bring your unwanted “stuff” and place it in the community building rather than chucking it in the garbage bin. You know, just in case someone else in town wants your used items, or maybe a gift you received and didn’t want to keep.
I’ve been four times since we’ve been here and have dropped off about a half dozen ceramic pots to the community building that were left by the previous homeowner because I knew we wouldn’t use them. Dropping off our recyclables and trash, has truly become one of my favorite things to do every other week.
So far I’ve picked up a candle, a glass frog, a few large mugs, a candle holder, a wooden plate and some canvas fabric that was actually on my list for my next visit to the fabric store. Twice now I’ve missed out on some nice big wicker baskets by about 5 seconds and last week I missed out on a table lamp.
But this past week? HOLY CANOLIES….. I hit the jackpot.
A braided rug, a Keurig machine {it works!} and a large frame {for my next sampler project!}.
Seriously!!! A free large braided wool rug. How cool is that?
New England. Thank you for such a wonderful welcome. I. Am. Home.
Wishing everyone nothing but delightful and unexpected discoveries as you make your way through this beautiful day.
~Mavis
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Lissa says
Do you think it’s because we’re getting older and nostalgic for simple the things we loved so much growing up?
YES….at least that’s how I feel. I find myself thinking of my parents and grandparents all the time and how different their lives were and focused on the simple things.
Juli says
Random, but are you Lissa from Refinery29 Moneydiaries? It’s rare that I run into people on multiple of my fave money/frugal blog things :). I’m @growhappy on there. If not, no worries – enjoy your day! Love your positivity!
Amanda D says
Love reading your stories. So glad you found a place you can officially call “home” now. I’ll be there one day, returning to the country life. Guinea can be loud, but the benefits from them far outweigh the noise. My grandmother raised them. Good watchbirds – were quick to make a fuss when someone/something came into the yard that didn’t belong, zero ticks in the yard, very few bugs, plus eggs and meat.
Mama Cook says
Oh! If I were right there, right now (and I was closer than a cyber friend ), I would give you a great big hug and jump up and down and do a happy dance with you!!!
You worded precisely what I have been feeling since we moved from the suburbs! And you know what’s awesome? My kiddos all reflect it too!!! We’ve all never been more tired, dirty or happy!!!
Welcome Home!!!
Mama Cook says
Ahem…and why had I never thought to use a carpet cleaner to clean my area rugs? Bye-bye carpet cleaning service!!!!!
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Mavis, I think this is one of the most from-the-heart pieces you’ve written in a long time. (And you nailed goal number one for this week!) A resounding YES! to all of your thoughts. So glad you finally made it to where your heart longed to be. Welcome home…
Hans says
Love this post. The words were timely and resonated with how my heart feels. My joy is found on the prairie though and my children are still young enough for me to change while they’re still around.
Alice says
Be careful of the Keurig. They grow mold in the lines. Google it. My sister cut hers open after a year and split the lines ( hoses) ….full of mold.
Lauralli says
Yes! This is why we no longer have a Keurig! And, you can’t really clean it without killing the machine!
April in N Idaho says
Way too much plastic being consumed and discarded too! NOT sustainable.
Judy Zent says
Ditto. Please don’t.
Maxine says
My husband points out that “home” is our house of 20+ years and not my hometown which I refer to as “home”. I didn’t fit in with my family (at least not my age but I did with my grandparents’ age) or the people there but I love the countryside still. Currently we’re in suburbia and we say we’ll follow our daughter once she settles somewhere but that will be a while. I think it’s because we don’t have family here or close friends, friends are the parents of our daughter’s friends and teammates but not friends enough that we’ll hang out with once they graduate high school and go on to college. I’m making more of an effort to make this “home”, but I’d be your next door neighbor in a heartbeat. Lol. On the upside I can recycle almost everything here and I have enough land for a decent garden and room to play with other plants and still have wildlife. Not to mention a great library system. Your happiness shines through your writing and made me smile. Thank you!
FarmGirl says
For several years now, I have thought you belonged in the country where life is slower and simpler. Reading about how happy you are makes me happy…..Isn’t it strange how that happens. 🙂 Country life is the best life for peace of mind, body, and spirit if you ask me. I live on a farm and drive 20 minutes to work in a medium sized town and can’t wait to get home at night. Once home in the evenings I don’t leave. I have no need to. Thank you for inspiring so many us with your goal updates and just your general “get ‘er done” attitude.
Lissa says
Have just loved reading all the archives of posts…..Curious: what blogs do you enjoy following?
Shari Harniss says
That’s a good question, Lissa!
Do tell Miss Mavis!
RebekahU says
Mavis – I’m so happy to read this post. I’m so happy that you have been blessed with contentment. It is really nice when one can say, I’m finally home…I finally have a sense of belonging. It’s also so good to fall into bed at the end of the day feeling that the day was well spent. It’s good to feel your muscles even if they are all super sore. I’m thrilled for you!!!
Sallie Borrink says
We moved from the city to a cute little town (that is rapidly become suburbia which is another story). After about two weeks here, I noticed I felt like a different person. My stress level plummeted and part of it was being around green – trees, grass, open spaces, etc. Getting out of the city was so important.
If you REALLY want to change your life? Quit Facebook. I did it a few weeks ago and you’ll be amazed how different you feel if you do it. I’ve been blogging through the first thirty days post-Facebook and I’ve been stunned by some of the things that have happened to me that I never expected.
Ann says
Sallie Borrink, where is your blog?
Gigi says
I pretty much quit FB too. It wasn’t intentional. Just one day I stopped logging on. I just logged on for the first time in about a month and didn’t really miss it.
Lolly says
We lived in apartments, on post housing (duplexes) (talk about nosy!!!), and our first house was a townhouse (which funny enough felt more private than living on post). After all of that, we bought a tiny farmhouse on 37 acres of land! Family could NOT understand why we wanted to live on a farm….parents made comments like, but you were raised in the city! As if we literally fell off the side of the earth?! Idk????!!!! Funny enough….WE LIVE IN CITY LIMITS, all of EIGHT minutes away from that townhouse!!!! We’re a mile from a major highway. We don’t live in the middle of some deserted wilderness!!!! Said parents warily came for a visit a yr or two after we moved in….and both breathed in the calm and quiet and peacefulness….and fell in love! Lol! Seriously?! I think they thought my dh had taken me and the kids to some scary commune place to live….like he had brainwashed us….you know, cause my totally sane and wonderful and loving dh is all of a sudden crazy or something?!?!sudden
Anyway, we have us a donkey…to keep away the coyotes (you MUST pronounce it KI-yOts, lol), and a bunch of random dogs we rescued, a sweet mini pig, and chickens….(anyone need 14 dozen eggs….that’s what is in our fridge right now…dh told the kids they HAD to eat eggs for bfast, lunch, and dinner from now on, bwahahaha….they rolled their eyes at him!! I’ll hard boil a couple dozen, and they prolly WILL eat them like that, hahaha!). The kids have places to wander and hide and play. We have a bit of privacy (I don’t have curtains on the LR, kit, or bath windows!!!), though people on the road can see past the pasture, and if we’re in the front yard, they might honk and wave. We have one neighbor we can see. The rest….the trees are between us. It’s nice! Very very nice!!!
Lolly says
We moved here and got rid of our tv. (We do watch stuff on metflix, on the laptop or ipad….but a show or two when we want, vs the tv on non-stop). People really really thought we’d lost it then! HAhaha! But the wall that would have had a huuuuge tv on it, I had dh build me three big bookshelves, and I filled them with some amazing books….and the kids wander in and pull books and sit and read. They usually have 3-4 books going at once….and I find half opened books sitting all over my house! I love it! And the kids get kicked out to play regularly! It’s needed!!!! They have waaaaay too much energy for this small house!!! Lol!
We have a small pond, but it’s waaaay down yonder….I wish it was closer, and not so snakey, lol! And had FISH! I’d send those kids down there to catch dinner!!!
Gee says
Lolly, my brother has two ponds at his place. They both have fish. You just need to take your kids fishing (or have your dh take them.) You catch a few fish (my brother got small mouth bass,) stick ’em in a cooler with water from wherever you’re fishing, take them to your pond, and dump them in their new home.
He does feed them in the summer, mostly day-old bread products from the local bakery outlet, but that’s all the work that’s involved, and I’m not sure he really needs to. It’s just something he likes to do. The fish breed and keep the pond cleaned out – and provide an occasional dinner.
And if you want to swim in that pond, just build yourself a raft and anchor it in the middle. That way you’ll get away from the snakes. 🙂
Lolly says
Lol, awesome! And I had zero thoughts about HOW to easily stock our pond like that! I didn’t grow up fishing or stuff like that (city girl, as my dad reminded me! Lol!). And really, my kids are now old enough that they could be trusted by the pond by themselves…dh would just need to mow a trail.
We do occasionally hear ducks and geese down that way….I just kinda wish the pond was closer….I like to see water. We’re on the front side of the 37 acres, and the pond is way in the back! We also have a lab who adores water…..he would be soooo happy about the pond! Ha!
Gee says
I hope you get to work it out. I grew up with a pond in the backyard, and we virtually lived in it all summer. Get up in the morning, put on your bathing suit, eat breakfast, go to the pond. Go back to the house for lunch and dinner, and otherwise, stay in the pond. The only time we were forbidden was when there was a thunderstorm in the area. And all of us had taken lifeguard training.
It sure cut down on the laundry pile. 🙂
Suzanne says
Thank you for sharing! I grew up in a small town (2500 people) and loved it! We will retire in a few years and your new lifestyle is what we will be looking for! Ironically though, we will go from Kansas to the Port Orchard area in Washington – ha!
FarmGirl says
As someone also from Kansas that sounds like a huge change. 🙂 But at least you won’t have to worry about tornadoes! Hope you do not see any bad weather this week! And good luck on the move in a couple of years! 🙂
SandyF says
Awe-I think we all sighed in content along with you. I have lived in my current home for 20 years and never felt like home. I am still looking for that feeling. And I seem to only get a glimpse of it in the “country”. My work (retired now) took me all over the country-but I seemed to pick New England as my preference ( I am in CA) Walloons Pond, Kissing Balls hanging on porches in Maine, White Mtns of NH. Even years of getting lost in Boston during the Big Dig. Still loved it. We visited my husbands family farm in CT-and I gasped-‘Why would anyone ever move from here?”
Anyway-back to reality. Your home is beautiful (what we can see) The quality of the house, copper gutters, soapstone counters(?) etc etc. Great find Mavis!
I agree-There are too many stores and choices here in SoCal. If I am out of something it is 5 minutes down the road. I would really rather “make do” and work and live around what we have on hand. I know that I would save $$. I want simple. So-thank you for this blog and all you share. It feels like friends gather here.
Vicki in Birmingham says
Mavis, I must say this post absolutely makes my heart happy. I am SO delighted for you, I can’t even say how much. There must not be a better feeling than knowing you are finally home. I say good for you and pray the rest of us are lucky or blessed enough to find the same thing.
Valérie says
I am happy you are happy
Kristen Finnemore says
Welcome to New England from Connecticut! It’s great to hear you’ve found your place. I love the smells, sounds, feel, pace… et all. There’s nothing like it. We are lucky to be in such a beautiful part of the world.
Marcia says
This is interesting, and I sometimes wonder how sustainable it all is.
I mean, just look in general at the cost of housing – everywhere. I live in So Cal, which is ridiculous, but where you left wasn’t much better I don’t think. How many people have half a million dollars and up for a house in the city, burbs, or countryside? Not many.
Sure, there are small towns and rural areas all over that are cheaper – my home town is one of them. But there are quite literally no jobs. The small manufacturing companies that were there when I was a child are now all gone. There’s a lot of meth and heroin though. And the Amish. Small towns and rural areas are just getting smaller and smaller because young people are moving away.
I’m in a suburb / small city nowadays, which is a much better fit for me than the rural area where I grew up. I have nostalgia for my upbringing, but the honest truth is that it wasn’t for me. Of course, there’s change everywhere. With increasing population (just from population growth AND from people moving in from rural areas), traffic gets worse, it gets more expensive, now there’s a lot of infill – so more traffic, less parking, and my lovely little ‘hood isn’t so lovely anymore.
ANGELIA M JOHNSON says
I love reading your posts this one is very nice..It really shows the real you..Question though as I also live in Washington state. Did you find jobs there before you moved or just took the leap of faith? If you took a leap how goes the hunt? (PS I understand the blog is your job and also understand working from home)
Ellen in Clackamas says
I so understand the longing for the country. I grew up on a small farm in a small town and HATED it. Hated the garden, hated the chickens and cows and pigs, hated not having anything to do. Ha–now the older I get I want it all back! I do have a garden that I don’t mind weeding and will be getting some chickens the end of the month. No room for other animals but this will do for now. And the recycle place–what memories!!! We called ours “the dump” and took broken things. They always let you look thru the pile for stuff. We got chairs and lamps and tables. I hate that you just have to through stuff in the big hole now and it gets mushed up.
So happy for you
Helen in Meridian says
In my dh’s small Idaho town they called the dump the North Shoshone Shopping Center. His dad, the town DR, used to bring all kinds of things home from the NSSC. They outlawed burning there, but there was always surprise spontaneous combustion.
MEM says
A friend of mine lives in a wealthy town on Boston’s South Shore. He and his wife are not wealthy. They visit the “dump” often – they call it going to the Mall. One of their best finds is a nearly new Espresso machine – retails for about $900.
P.S. I recommend cleaning or de-scaling your Keurig with a white vinegar rinse. Takes a few cycles to get it all out but its worth it.
Mavis Butterfield says
Didn’t think to do the white vinegar rinse. Thanks!
Helen in Meridian says
I was going to suggest vinegar to clean and sanitize it.
Alice says
Still won’t take care of the black mold.
jan. says
Fifteen years ago this summer I left Dallas after many years and moved to the countryside outside of Chattanooga. I felt just like you do! Dallas was a wonderful place to be when I was young and had a career but my needs and wants changed so I came here.
The small town I live in is home to many, many Fortune 100 companies but it still feels like a small town. My only complaint is that M&M MARS makes M&M’s here so you can smell chocolate all over the Place! LOL! We have a jet port but no airport. There are plenty of jobs and the younger people stay because they are well employed and it is an awesome place to raise kids. Very little crime and almost perfect weather! With access to quite a few large cities if you want to day trip there.
This little town is about as perfect for me as I can imagine and I feel just like you do. It is easy & peaceful and I really appreciate it! I live in the Historical District in a 1950’s house that is like a Doris Day movie set on a huge yard. My backyard is paradise with 40 trees and 200 azaleas. Just typing this I feel like I really hit the jackpot! And I did I guess!
So there are those magical places out there if you look for them! But I do think these things come to you at the right time of your lives. I wasn’t looking for this place when I was young and it maybe wouldn’t have worked for me then. So I’m really happy I get to be here now!
My wish for everyone is they get to be where they dream to be. So keep dreaming & make it happen!
Mavis Butterfield says
“My wish for everyone is they get to be where they dream to be. So keep dreaming & make it happen!” I couldn’t agree more. 😉
Marcia says
It sounds lovely. But are there ticks??
Linda says
So happy you are content and have found your happy place! We have the same trash & recycling setup here. My husband calls the place you have been getting your free treasures the “ free shack.”
Gina says
“More real” …We are so very proud of you. You created this life of your dreams and we are overjoyed for your hapiness. Truly. You are a wonderful example of hard work and determination. Inspiring. You are an old soul in all the good ways. Keep it “more real”.
Mellie says
I have been wondering about your husband’s job. Did he retire early or find work before moving away? I am East Coaster stuck in the Midwest. Blah!
Heather says
I live in the town where I was born. I married a man who spends his years farming family ground to feed the masses. I love being close to my family. I love traveling frequently to places far away, for a change of pace and culture. All the comments are so wonderful about people making their way to the lives they want. I so enjoy the blog, but also love your readers. They boost my spirits and validate the things I find important in life. Cheers to your new home.
Libby says
My heart swells reading about how happy and content you are. You are living proof that patience and hard work really can make dreams come true.
I’m biased, but I think there is a practicality and common-sense outlook among New Englanders. We live surrounded by “old”: houses, roads, and things and have learned that it isn’t a dirty word. The majority of people here recycle and compost even in suburbia – more so than most other parts of the country based on my travels.
The “dump” offers awesome treasures!! Can’t wait until you experience your first town meeting and see what you think about how local political issues are settled LOL!
Christie says
And this is why I read your blog! About a month ago I deleted most of the blog links I was reading on a daily basis and kept only those that actually speak to me. You are an inspiration, living a simple and happy life and perfectly content to not “keep up with the Joneses”. Thank you for sharing your bit of the world with us!
Sandy says
As a single woman with no children my house is very quiet — by purposeful design. Right now I’m watching the sunrise and hearing the birdsong. Looking over to the right I can see my two sleeping cats. When I go to other places the noise! It’s as if people become immune to the background chatter. I don’t know how they do it. People comment how quiet my house is when they come to visit and I notice after about five minutes they take a deep breath and you can see their shoulders relax. The quiet is so healing.
I’m so pleased you found your happy place. Some people never find it their whole lives and spend all their time searching for the next thing that will make them content. You’ve worked so hard to make this happen!
Debbie - MountainMama says
14 years ago on June 21st I left New York City where I was born and raised and moved to my weekend country house in the Catskill Mountains. I never looked back, I had always been a country girl at heart and hated growing up in the city! Now I live on a mountain top about 20 miles from where that country house was, and my neighbors are horses….and coyotes and bears and other critters. Like you, we have everything we need right here on the mountain top and I rarely leave!
Mrs. Mills says
Mavis, I am so happy for you!. At 58 I work our land and our animals and feel better than I ever have. In our little town of Ashcroft, B.C. we have stores close because of “not feeling well”. And it is ok. When it is really hot in the summer stores here elastic band a wash cloth on the door! Life is good.