How often do you leave your homestead?

[Suzy]

How often do you leave your homestead???

I have a news-friend who calls me a hermit....

Friday morning I had to go to the co-op and buy feed....then I really didn't leave the homestead again until Monday morning when I had to go and pick up rabbit feed...

I will be going out today to pick up gas for my little lawn tractor (which I use for all sorts of things)....

I usually don't leave the homestead unless I HAVE to...I go out to do writing assignments about three times per month now...

I only live three miles from our county seat, a small town of about 8000.

Am I a hermit? Is there anything wrong with that???? :)

[Anon001]

I usually leave the house once a week.... on Sunday. I'm usually gone most of that day. Otherwise, I may run into the co-op once a month. I get all my feed at the same time so I don't have to make other trips... dog food mainly. Before I make my run to the co-op (12 miles one way), I make a list of everything. I take my gas cans to fill, get any repair parts I've been needing, top off the gas in the pickup, etc. I don't like having to make several trips a month to town.... so, if I think I may need something ...before I'll run out of dog food... I go ahead and plan to get it/them.

On Sundays, when I go to church, I also do the WalMart thang.... lol toiletries, and other things that I don't get on my run to the co-op. Actually, the run to town once a month is to get everything I can't get on Sundays.

Oh.. I also forgot to say that once in awhile, I do drive over to the other 40 just to check on things. Since it is 20 miles west of me, I let a neighbor rent it for hay this last year. So, I don't have to go very often....

[NCLee]

Quote: Am I a hermit?

If you are, I am, too. LOL

Have some friends who can't understand why I could care less about going to the mall for the afternoon. Can't understand why I'm perfectly satisified with spending a whole week here without setting foot off the property.

No I don't need/want to go out on the town with dinner and a movie or more wandering the mall.

When we do go somewhere, I like to incorporate as many errands, as possible, on the trip. I keep a running list, in the kitchen, for things that need to be picked up at places other than our small town stores. Sam's Club, Lowes Food, Wal-Mart (that list is tied to our prescription refill schedule), Lowes, Harbor Freight, Woodworking Shop, etc.

Once in a while, I do get restless. When that happens, grabbing one or two of those lists, usually takes care of it. :)

Yep, guess I'm becoming a hermit, too.
Lee

[bookwormom]

I am almost with Paul. we go about every two weeks. but we have to go to town (7 miles)twice a week to pick up our son, who has a ridiculous schedule at life skills. One day on tuesday and one on friday, they are not accomodating to give him two days in a row.
I am always glad to get back home and hate leaving the place.

[kiwirach]

nothing wrong with that at all Suzi!
i'm a hermit and quite happy about it to!!. i go do what i need to do....combining as many errands as possible into one trip, then i'm home quick smart. i try to go out before the crowds as well as i get wound up being with loads of people!.
i'm quite happy on my own with a good book once all the jobs are done!.

[Mom5farmboys]

I prefer the term "homebody" lol. I would much rather stay at home than go out and about. I do make a run for groceries every other week, and during the school year run the kids back and forth to school and I often stay at school with them and volunteer my time. I look forward to summer vacation more than the kids do I think. People think I'm strange that I'm not eagerly anticipating the fall when the kids go back to school, but the truth is there is lots of interesting things to do here all summer, and I like having them around.

I could be a hermit easy! The scary thing the husband is worse than I am!

[Laura]

You have no idea what I would give to be able to stay home, 6 of 7 days a week. There is SO much to do......so much.

With work, sports, grocery shopping, running kids here and there.....then the little stuff like when the belt flips off the tractor.....run run run!!

I am in total envy of 'homebody hermit types!!"
someday........

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I leave home at least once or twice a week. Since I have a few children, and working husband, someone is going somewhere several times a week. I just stay home more than the others. In the winter, we are out every Thursday morning for farm auction and Sunday mornings. We are all home most of the time other than that in the winter.

[Kilroy]

I would like to stay at the homestead more. Usually every couple of days I have to drag my butt back down the paved road.

[Deberosa]

Oh how I miss the life style of a year ago when I worked from home and never had to go out! Once a month for animal feed and other shopping was plenty for me! Now it's every weekday into town to work (17miles) then weekends do the errands which are many starting up the new place. I hope that will slow down significantly once things are set up here. We also go to the occasional fair/festival around the area to see the sites right now. That's not so bad. But I really liked not going anywhere for long periods of time!

[Catalpa]

Oh how I wish I could work from home. I am trying and trying to find a way to do that! I leave my homestead almost every day - even though I had my hours cut at work I still have to go into the office three days a week. During the school year there's lots of running and fetching for sports and band and whatever.

I would dearly love to stay on the homestead ALL THE TIME, except for going to church on Sundays, or maybe going out because I WANT TO, like for geocaching or kayaking, not because I HAVE TO.

[flatwater]

When you have a soul mate You don't want to leave them for very long because you enjoy their company. Well I think you can have a soul mate in a location. There is nothing outside that place that is as good as that place. Did that make any since ?

[sissy]

When you have a soul mate You don't want to leave them for very long because you enjoy their company. Well I think you can have a soul mate in a location. There is nothing outside that place that is as good as that place. Did that make any since ?
Yep it's called home. :)
Ya know the old saying (Home is where the heart is.)
That is where my heart is, on the homestead.
Sissy

[firegirl969]

I am a homebody, hermit type. DH is also. He works everyday and runs most of our errands. I go out when I HAVE to. Otherwise, I am content to stay right here. He hopes to retire early in a few years and then we can stay home together most all of the time.

[Anon001]

Oh how I wish I could work from home....
...I would dearly love to stay on the homestead ALL THE TIME...

oh.... but you can!..... Anyone can if they put their mind to it. I never thought I would be able to stay at home until I lost my last job and gas was too hight to drive 35 miles one way.

I sat down, took a hard look at things and realized that I could possibly do it if I tightened my belt. It worked.

Other than church and the once in a blue moon run for parts, I stay home... I did forget to mention the occasional Saturday farm auction. There are auctions around here every Saturday and Sunday. I go to the Saturday sales once in awhile.

[reedb66]

I wish I could stay home just once!!!!!We as some of you know have a food trailer that we operate at all the auctions a local auction service has(usually 2 but sometimes 3 per week),always weekends.Then we also have a resteraunt that is also doing very well(open from 4 pm till 10 pm daily during the week) and just last week we bought 3 apartment buildings that I am remodeling !!!!The bank actually approached me about buying them(forclosure)and shot me a heck of a price and the fix up money all at 5% fixed rate for 30 years so I bit and now have all kinds of work(silly me)... So my day now starts at 5 am and goes till 12am most days and not much at home but the good part is its for me ,,,Not for someone else,,,Thats important to me!!

[Northern_bushrat]

Being a hermit is a good thing! I go out just 2-3 times a year, but we do live pretty remote...

[NCLee]

You have no idea what I would give to be able to stay home, 6 of 7 days a week. There is SO much to do......so much.

With work, sports, grocery shopping, running kids here and there.....then the little stuff like when the belt flips off the tractor.....run run run!!

I am in total envy of 'homebody hermit types!!"
someday........

Laura, just keep being a "homebody/hermit" in your homestead dreams. In time, Lord willing, you'll get there. What you're doing now is what will make it possible later.

At one point in my life, I was holding onto my dream for dear life. Found myself in a work situation that required 7 days a week for a little better than 2 years. And, the hours each day were long, too. Most weeks I clocked in 80+ hours. In addition to my daily routine work, I was responsible for coordinating and implementing a massive custom software project that went along with converting from a mainframe computer system to a computer network.

I'd get home at 10:30 pm, grab a bite to eat, go to bed and be back at work at 8:00 am. Don't think I would have made it, if I hadn't had my dream right along side caffine and Tyanol to keep me going.

Just keep on working on your dream, whether it's learning, planning, or stashing back a couple of dollars everytime you can. You'll get there.

Lee

[Laura]

Don't think I would have made it, if I hadn't had my dream right along side caffine and Tyanol to keep me going.

Just keep on working on your dream, whether it's learning, planning, or stashing back a couple of dollars everytime you can. You'll get there.


*smile*
Thanks for the encouragement.
I sat at the bar last night and worked on my garden design for next year. Mapped it all out, paired what veggies play nice with other veggies, drew diagrams, wrote down a list of books I need from the library........
All while seating guests (slow night) and overseeing the restaurant!!
Multitasking!!

Laura

[Anon001]

Laura,

I've found that there are about 3 things that keeps someone from being able to stay home.... 1. Debt; 2. Standard of living too high; 3. Wasteful spending.

If someone cuts out the debt and cuts spending, and lowers their standard of living, they can usually find a way to generate enough from home. I know. I did it. Of course, it took me 15 years to get to that point.

There's also a young couple that are members here and they are debt free, have the kids at home and do just fine with what they bring in online and from home.... and they still live in town, working toward a homestead in the country.

So, don't give up the dream and you, too, can stay home like some of us already are doing.

[TNDadx4]

I currently have to go to town every day for work and during school, there's football games, but I enjoy the kids events. On Sunday, there's also church for us. I pretty much leave everyday, but like others, wish that I didnt have to. I'm trying to find a way where I can stay home more.

Paul and Lee, thanks for the encouragement to those of us that currently don't stay home :)

[pcrowder]

I only leave when I have to! After all, when you live on a little piece of Heaven, why would you want to leave it? I leave to go to the feed store, check cows, and see my mom in the nursing home. Other than that, I HATE to leave!

[dearg]

I'm right there with ya pc!! I have to go to town 2 or 3 times a month. Most of my banking, bill paying and work is online.. Really with the garden and live stock who has time to go to town LOL...

[AzLoneRider]

My wife is able to stay home much of the time, she has to go out to go shopping and run a few errands. Once a week she takes my son to a coop class or to play with friends who live 10 miles away or so.

I have to leave everyday for my job. Working to change that, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

[cinok]

I try not to leave, but lately I have been leaving everyday to rebuild a shed for one of my wife's friends whose husband recently pasted.Usually its once a week to town for supplies. I always pick up extra lumber and hardware so I can remain a hermit as much as possible. The boys have football and 4H but those are fun family events so I do not mind them. We(wife) have even found a to cut down time away on supply runs we use the Sams club on line shopping put the list on line go pay for it load it in the truck and your out of their. Its also prevents any extras from landing in the shopping cart. Going to buy 1/2 sacks of feed to eliminate trips to the coop. If it was up to me I would be a cranky old man who never left but then we have reality, wife still says I am a cranky old fart though :)