Escaping reality… where is your contentment at?

If I could just escape the realities of life I’d be on a better course in my life path. How many people actually say this? I bet a lot. Life’s realities can be often overwhelming and powerful in the changes that we seem to never be prepared for in life. It can be illness, careers, family, and in many other areas where we see the most impressionable changes. Do these changes reflect the what is needed or what must be?

This is a difficult question. For each of us this can vary greatly. I tend to sway from one scenario to another unable to land on exactly where I’d be content in my life. So much has happened, and there is yet much to come. How do you determine what it is you really want in life? I can give you a perfect example. I find that due to my currently situation my “where am I content” question can change. I’ve always been fascinated with the rural life of homesteaders yet having multiple chronic illnesses my fear of not being close to great medical care frightens me. Now not everyone living a more rural life has perfect health but I’m so use to having the convenience of great medical care right down the street I wonder how I would adjust. I mean going to a pharmacy would be an event! At least an hour drive I’d assume. Then I go to wanting to be back in Arizona where I lived life simple yet convenient. Low maintenance life with many fun activities and travel. With the lack of major household responsibilities you have a greater level of freedom. On the contrary being an owner of a homestead even if you don’t have animals you’re more likely not to leave. You have your haven why would you leave?

Let’s face it money is a factor is our quality of contentment. You can be content but not having a quality of contentment. Meaning you can be content and very uncomfortable financially yet satisfied internally. However we still need to pay our bills and how will you make money on your homestead? Sure there are ways but are you able? Do you have the resources and knowledge to make it happen? Money, as much as we’d not like it to, plays a big part in finding your contentment. Can you be OK living on little money? Just enough to get you by. Or is it a big part of your life? Do you want to travel abroad, get a boat, or indulge in the many luxuries in life? I remember being in Arizona and the late and seeing all the Pontoon boats thinking boy I’d love to have one of those. Sure it would be fun but would I REALLY use it? Do I even entertain to that level? Realistically I don’t. I don’t even have the energy to do that.

I recall a few homesteaders who do YouTube saying that at some point reality smacks you in the face. You didn’t realize all that goes into making your dream come true. Never in a million years did you think you’d be forking out so much just to maintain their place of contentment. It was underestimated the level of physical labor it was going to be. When you’re evaluating your life and goals you have to put it all on the table. Research others who do it and if it’s even realistic. Take into consideration if you have school aged children can they handle that change. Also do you have health issues that may require you to be near medical professionals? Do you have allergies you didn’t know about? Do you have physical restrictions that stop you from being able to run such a project.

How do you remedy the situation you’re now in. Suburbs, urban, rural… so many choices to think about. You can find a compromise and that is to meet in the middle. For example there are areas near the suburbs where they have properties with 1/2 acre plus. This could work well since you’d be close enough to what you need to access yet you’d have the land to satisfy the desire to Homestead. There are so many options to find that middle ground.

In the end it’s in G_ds hands. Just pray about it and let G_d guide you through the decisions.