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I didn't mean to imply you moved out of fear, if that's what you think I meant - you made it clear you wanted a simple lifestyle and that homesteading fit that bill. That's exactly what I want too. (And to be self-sufficient if TSHTF, but I'd do it even if the economy was roaring with happy capitalism.) Anyway, sorry if that's the impression I've made!

Is it possible for you to have the best of both worlds? Is there any country kind of land where you are that would be close enough for him to still work? We really tried to get out of Kansas and start our place in th Ozarks, but because of work we just couldn't make it happen. So, we compromised and moved just out of the city. I wish we were further out, in the middle of nowhere, but it was the best we could do, and it has worked out just fine.

Well, that is my plan A ;) I look for jobs weekly for hubby in rural areas. The chances of getting one might be slim, but I am still trying and he applies if I find one he likes in an area that isn't urban. We'll have to settle for a less than optimum place if he does get a new job, because there is only one natural gas plant that I can see in SE Kentucky and there are NEVER openings there! And that plant is still a little to close to civilization. Plan B is to move when we accumulate enough cash if Plan A doesn't work. I took an 8500 miles driving trip this summer to check out relocation areas - there are a lot of beautiful places in the US. I missed the Ozarks since I went north along SD, but want to go there if I do the trip again. I actually plannd to go to Clinton, MO and the lake Truman area but after looking at the map, it was far out of my way since I wanted to see Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

As to the cow/goat thing, the mama cow has her baby to keep her company, and yes we do have multiple goats because the one was lonely (the sheep just didn't cut it for her, of course!) I was worried about so much milk with the cow, but you can always let the calf have as much as it can, or you can feed it to the cats/dogs, it's good for the garden, etc. Or you can get even worse and buy a pig to eat everything you have left over. It is a never ending circle for me.

I do want a pig - that would be a good solution. I never heard of giving plants milk-is it good for them? I think I'll start with my one gallon of milk and see how I do with cheese before committing to getting a cow ;) If I can make some decent cheese and butter eventually, a coew might be a good idea actually. I'd really like to see some of it at a farmer's market - if Obama's Food Police doesn't prohit it completely by then.

How precious to see chicks hatching! Does the automatic turner pick them up (ie., Jurassic Park) or roll them over like a hot-dog machine at a mini-mart? Post some pics of the babies when the time comes!

I'll check out Homesteading Today - thanks for the idea. I usually just get depressed when I see all the things I SHOULD be doing and WANT to be doing on the net. But I do need ot start learning and preparing, cuz the move could come in 6 months (I'm being overly optimistic here, but why not?)

No, no, I didn't mean that YOU thought that. I was generalizing the thoughts of why many people think they need to get out of town.

My hubby still has the same job that he had when we lived in town. We only moved about 20-30 minutes out, still close enough to go back and forth. Not far enough as far as I am concerned, but again, you do what you can.

And yes, absolutely there are so many beautiful places that we could be, so many that I don't know how I would choose if I could live anywhere. If I could, I would live somewhere with cooler temperatures, probably Idaho or NE Washington. Our past two summers have made me realize that without consistent rain, you can never be truly self sufficient. Everything we do is water, water, water, whether for us to cook and clean, or for the animals, or to grow crops, it's all about water, and we haven't had nearly enough of it the past two years. And I can deal with cold, and so can the animals, way better than the heat.

Yeah, the egg turner is kind of like those hot dog things. We did hand raise one chick and one duckling last year, from a mama hen that wouldn't raise them. She raised one on her own, though. It is something else to watch them hatch. Cute as can be.

And don't get depressed, get inspired! None of us will ever have the perfect set up, and there will alwys be those who do it better, or have more experience, or prettier homesteads, etc. etc. Good luck, and keep me posted!