by Kelli Bowen
This time last year we were very frantically packing the lives of four humans and two dogs into many boxes to make the move into town. We had decided to trade our seven acres with tales of chickens, predators and pumpkins for the convenience of friends next door, paved streets, and delivered pizza.
When aghast friends asked what prompted this big change, it boiled down to the fact that after a total-loss garage fire and Miss A fracturing her skull, we weren’t 100% sure the place where we lived wasn’t cursed and we thought this move would give our kids a shot at the best childhood we could offer.
Fast forward one year, and here we are: the girls frequent the park behind our house and love running with the friends from the ‘hood. We are in a very convenient location for commuting to both my and Hubby’s jobs. We have a great space behind our house to walk the dogs, our house is perfect for our needs and we have some pretty dang nice neighbors.
Our “hard-core” country friends don’t understand our swap. We can be to the school or dance studio in less than 5 minutes, depending on train traffic or machinery moving, but all the convenience isn’t worth trading our Rural-Life Card in their minds and I get it. I mean, what do you really want?
I can be in “the big town” in 20 minutes when the amenities of our awesome small town aren’t quite enough. That’s neat, but is it what we really want?
Our neighbors wave and take an interest. We may not know all of them and they may not know us, but they recognize our girls and dogs…which may (or may not always) be a good thing. Neighbors in your business, is that what we really want?
Fifteen years ago, all Hubby and I really wanted was a family with lots of kids. That wasn’t in our cards. Ten years ago, all Hubby and I really wanted was a pregnancy that resulted in a healthy child. Eight years ago, all Hubby and I really wanted was to find a place to live in the country. Two years ago, all Hubby and I really wanted was healing for Miss A and an opportunity for Miss E to socialize and have fun with friends in a safe environment. I think we are ticking those boxes where we are now.
I have found that children skip straight from Halloween to Christmas. Miss E informed me what super-cool-tiny-toy-with-big-eyes she wants and asked what I’d like for Christmas. I told her healthy and happy children. She scoffed and said I needed to think of what I really want. It isn’t every day that I take a step back and realize what I have and allow myself to be thankful. This time of year is a great time to do that. …And do you know why? I talked to Hubby, and it turns out, what we’ve found in the last year, is all Hubby and I have ever really wanted.
Kelli makes her home in Cass County with her husband, two daughters (8 and 5) and two dogs. She works for a regional seed company by day and tries to be an alright mom, wife, friend and writer by night.
Other popular posts from Kelli: