Plans and Dreams

So, I’ve been thinking of my hopes and dreams for the future. Despite all the nastiness in the world, despite all the problems coming down the pike, I still have dreams. I know that history has no respect for people’s personal hopes and dreams, but that hardly matters. As Wilde said, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” So, what am I planning to do down the line?

I want a small piece of land. Not too big; between 1 and 5 acres. I want it to be near a small town, but unrestricted so I can have chickens. I want a small house; nothing big, just a modest dwelling. I will probably have to build it myself since I’ll never be able to afford land and house. “Never” is a big word, but at least not for 20-30 years. I can buy an acre of land for $13,000 in the country around here and build a small (about 600 sq ft) straw-bale house for about$15k, doing all but the specialized work myself with friends. Not pocket change, but not out of reach in the next ten years.

When I get this land, I intend to permaculture it –mostly a forest garden, with a small pond, and some traditional garden space. (I have to have my flowers and tomatoes, after all.) What else do I want on this place? Someone to share it with of course. Whether or not that will happen is even less certain than if I can get my land. Love is hard to find in any time, but in this time especially hard. And especially for an odd, non-mainstream lesbian living in the South. Know anyone you can set me up with? I also want to have kids (well, one), and I will probably do that with or without a partner.

Should this vision of the future come to pass, what shall I call my little farm? Why, Paradise, of course. To me it would be.