A New Chapter in My Life

[Mike]

For several months I've been looking for a small farm near Tyler, Texas. That's where my mother and brother live and I'm ready to get back to family.

My brother's friend told him of a property next to his that might be for sale soon. So, Sunday afternoon, my brother, his friend and I paid a visit to the current owner. It turns out they were ready to sell and just hadn't quite put it on the market yet. I had my real estate agent contact their agent (who knew nothing of this) and a deal was struck. I just got a call from my agent who told me it is a done deal - I'm soon to be the owner of a small farm where I plan to live and raise Longhorn cattle!

Now, the real nightmare starts. I am the child of a Great Depression child and was taught from birth to never get rid of anything because you might someday have a need for it. I learned my lessons well and have accumulated a massive amount of "good stuff" over the 31 years I have lived on this property. I haven't gone out seeking stuff, but I just don't get rid of stuff, either. That can be cool when I need something to complete a project or fix something that is broken. I just walk out to my stash and find what I need. But moving all this stuff? Not going to happen! What to keep and what to get rid of? Oh, my! That is going to be very difficult for me. I'm not a hoarder like you see on TV, but I can see getting there just over the horizon........

[Honda]

Congratulations. You will love it. I think you may be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to sell some of your stuff over several yard sales and get more for the stuff than you might expect. Sell what you will and move on to higher ground.

[Truckman]

And all those treasures will never look quite the same on that new location either...I recommend a series of garage sales, beginning with what you know you don't want to see in your new home......Ben

[wacojoe]

When we downsized from our farm, we had to have a barn sale, give away large tranches of stuff, rent a dumpster and still moved enough to fill a large house plus four 10x20 storage units! Best advice...have a fire!

[Mike]

"tranches" - a new word for me! Thanks!

[FredK]

Auction all the stuff except the toothbrush. Carry that out the door and throw it into the garbage.

Buy some new stuff like frig, freezer, washer/dryer and tv(s), since if I suspect you are like most of us had it too long. I remember moving a washer dryer set my mom had to a new place and getting it set up to last a couple of years. Since it was a 1200 mile trip carrying all that stuff down it wasn't worth the hassle to move it.

I know there's stuff we pack rat around and maybe that goes into one of those 20 foot storage units and they cart it to the place and you unload at your leisure.

Best of luck on the sale and moving.

[CactusCurt]

Congrats. I like everything about the plan except for the cattle Hopefully you have enough pasture and wont have to feed. Around here many of the small farms are sold by word of mouth. Thats how we bought this place.

My junk around here is mainly metal (old car parts from my bronco days ), and when the time comes I plan on getting the scrap dumpster. I could never have a yard sale - I don't like people nearly that much. All the junkyard people I know think like me anyway.

Enjoy the new place. Hopefully you can whiz anywhere around outside the house without the neighbors being offended. Watch out for snakes and rusty nails and you should be ok.

[Mike]

The Longhorns are just for "yard decorations". I have no intention of this being a business. I just want to sit on the porch and watch the horns grow. I don't care if I have to buy hay.

[CactusCurt]

Ok, that works. We need pics. What will you name your pet longhorn? Nox?

[Honda]

The Longhorns are just for "yard decorations". I have no intention of this being a business. I just want to sit on the porch and watch the horns grow. I don't care if I have to buy hay.

back at the farm I used to call my horses and cows pasture ornaments

[Mike]

back at the farm I used to call my horses and cows pasture ornaments

That works for me.

[wacojoe]

Have you got an outdoor dog yet to keep the unwanted critters at bay?

[Mike]

No, waiting until we get moved.

[Truckman]

What will you name your pet longhorn? Nox?

Those critters are so hard-headed and stubborn, it would take a large herd before Mike runs out of possible names from this bunch here...

Have you got an outdoor dog yet to keep the unwanted critters at bay?

Of the ones I've met, one has the heart of a charging rhinoceros, the voice of a bull elephant and the muscle of a baby squirrel...But Gilligan, on the other hand, could be the official greeter......Ben

[Independent Voter]

Define " small farm " ie. 10-30 30-50 acres?